The Detection of the Heat Production in Breast Cancer.
- Author:
Hyeon Woong CHOI
1
;
Dong Wha LEE
;
Hyun Ae LEE
;
Wook PARK
;
Min Hyuk LEE
Author Information
1. Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Heat production;
Thermography;
Breast cancer
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Female;
Hot Temperature*;
Humans;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Thermogenesis*;
Thermography
- From:Journal of the Korean Cancer Association
1997;29(4):656-662
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: It is known that heat production in breast cancer is caused by hypermetabolism, hypervascularization and hyperperfusion in the affected regions of the breast. The object of this study is to detect the heat production in breast cancer of Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 240 patients with breast cancer and benign mass were examined by digital infrared thermographic system from January 1991 through December 1995. The heat production was detected when there was a hot spot on clinically palpable breast mass area on the breast thermogram. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 130 with breast cancer and 110 with benign mass, as control group. 118 (90.8%) of 130 patients with breast cancer had the heat production, but only 12 (10.9%) of 110 patients with benign mass had the heat production (p<0.0001). The sensitivity of breast thermogram was 90.8% and the specificity was 89.1%. 16 (64%) of 25 breast cancer of which size was smaller than 2 cm had the heat production. But all of 45 breast cancer of which size was larger than 4 cm had the heat production (p<0.0001). 103 (79.2%) of breast cancer had greater than 2degrees C in thermal difference (delta T), and 120 (92.3%) had greater than 1degrees C. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is heat production in breast cancer. And also the heat production in breast cancer could be detected by the breast thermography. We suggest that further studies of mechanism about heat production in breast cancer is necessary.
