FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral from a doctor to schedule an appointment?
No, though many patients are referred by their health practitioner, CT Thermography accepts self-referred patients.
How long will my appointment take?
Appointment length depends on the screening type. Breast screening appointment lengths are 30 minutes long. Full and upper body appointment lengths are 45 minutes long.
How long will my results take?
Just like other medical screenings results aren't immediate. The report, including images will take approximately 3-7 business days. During busier times, such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month you can expect the report to take up to 14 business days. For your convenience, CT Thermogaphy does offer a STAT report service for those wishing to receive the report sooner than the anticipated time frame mentioned above.
Will insurance cover my screening?
Currently, thermography is not reimbursable by insurance. However, supplemental insurances such as Aflac do reimburse some, if not all of a thermography screening fee. Health shares such as Liberty Health Share will cover 100% of a breast thermography screening. You can also utilize your HSA (health saving account) or FSA (flexible spending account) to pay for a thermography screening.
What is thermography?
Thermography is a screening tool using an medical infrared camera that records and analyzes the thermal patterns of the body . The thermal images are used by healthcare practitioners to help diagnose potential pathology, disease processes, and/or monitor pain in any part of your body. The screening is non-invasive, painless with no radiation or contact with the body.
What is thermography used for?
- To aid in the earlier detection of pathology, disease and cancer.
- To identify an abnormal area for further diagnostic testing.
- To define a previously diagnosed injury or condition.
- To evaluate sensory-nerve irritation or significant soft-tissue injury.
- To follow progress of healing and rehabilitation.
Who will benefit from thermography?
The information gained from a thermogram is valuable to men and women, of all ages, in any state of health. Inflammation is at the root of most chronic diseases, including cancer. Thermography is an ideal tool for monitoring inflammatory changes in your body by creating a baseline scan and follow up scans to show any minor changes. A thermography screening can be used for these and many other conditions:
- Cancer
- Digestive Disorder
- Lymphatic Congestion
- Vascular Disorder
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Neuropathy
Why do I need to come back for a comparison screening?
The screening is to provide an accurate and stable baseline. The baseline represents your unique thermal vascular "fingerprint", which can be altered by a developing pathology. A baseline cannot be established with just one screening because there is no way of knowing if this is a normal thermal pattern for you. By comparing images at the recommended interval at either 3, 6, or 12 months apart the Board Certified physicians can analyze if your thermal vascular fingerprint has remained stable overtime.
How does thermography differ from screenings such as mammograms or ultrasound?
Thermography is a test of physiology, in other words, the normal or abnormal functions of the body. It detects and records the infrared heat radiating from the surface of the body. Thermography can help with early detection, monitoring abnormal physiology and/or the establishment of risk factors for the development or existence of inflammation that may be a cancerous process.
Mammography and ultrasound are tests of anatomy, they detect a structure. When a tumor has grown to a size that is large enough and dense enough to block an x-ray beam (mammography) or sound wave (ultrasound), it produces an image that can be analyzed by a trained radiologist.
Will a thermography screening tell me if I have cancer
Thermograms, just like mammograms and ultrasounds, are used for screening purposes only. None of these screening methods can diagnose cancer. Only a biopsy can provide a diagnosis.
I'm curious to how it all works
Many people are! While thermography isn't a "new" technology, it certainly has evolved over the last decade. We highly encourage you to give our office a call to ask anything you'd like. Especially about how thermography can help you!