Investigation of characteristic thermal signatures of breast tumors using infrared thermography

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a primary cause of global cancer-related mortality, necessitating advanced early-stage diagnostic modalities. This study investigates the efficacy of infrared thermography (IRT) coupled with a systematic multi-angle acquisition protocol for characterizing malignant breast thermal signatures. A cohort of 38 patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer was evaluated using a FLUKE infrared system integrated with the BKA-06 thermal stimulation device. Thermographic data were acquired at multiple orientations (0°–180°) to comprehensively map thermal distribution patterns. Quantitative analysis identified significant thermodynamic anomalies, including elevated core temperatures, asymmetric heat dissipation, and heterogeneous isothermal contours. Recorded temperature differentials (DT) between tumor cores and peripheral tissues ranged from 1.2 °F to 1.8 °F. Comparative validation demonstrated high spatial congruence between thermographic “hotspots” and MRI-identified lesions, with histopathological biopsy serving as the definitive reference. Distinct from conventional binary classification approaches, this research systematically analyzes intrinsic thermal characteristics linked to pathological angiogenesis and metabolic hyperactivity. The findings suggest that the proposed IRT framework provides a reliable, non-invasive, and radiation-free adjunctive modality, enhancing the precision of early-stage breast cancer screening and clinical assessment.