THERMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING VISUALISATION OF BENIGN BREAST DIASEASE WITH MALIGNANT POTENTIAL

Background and Purpose. The term „benign breast diseases“encompasses a heterogeneous group of lesions which are an import risk factor for breast cancer. Histologically, they are usually subdivided into no proliferative lesions, proliferative lesions without atypia, and atypical hyperplasia’s, with an increased risk of breast cancer associated with proliferative or atypical lesions. The aim of our study was to compare thermography pathological signs of benign breast diseases with malignant potential with MRI images and histopathological specimens. Patients and Methods. The study was carried out on 15 female patients with high potential for developing breast cancer, including previous breast operations, positive familiar history of breast cancer and pathological fine needle aspiration findings. All female patients underwent ultrasound examination, FNA/histopathology, magnetic resonance imaging and thermography. Pathology thermography signs included: heat in area of finding (on other examinations), delta 3 sign, global heat, periareolar or nipplar heat, hot spot signs, vascular signs and contour sign. Results. The study included 15 female patients and the presence of pathological thermography signs was concordant with the findings of magnetic resonance imaging, and FNA/histopathological findings in all 15 patients with benign breast disease. Conclusion. The importance of this study lies in the possibilities of thermography, as biologically inert method, to recognize high risk benign breast lesions in everyday clinical practice. Our study indicated that thermography ia a new potential tool that could be challenged with standard diagnostic methods.