The Economical Approach To Breast Thermogram Interpretation

TAS breast thermography evaluation software answers the need for a credible, yet economical and convenient analysis technique. Whether you use TAS's software or submit images to the TAS reading service, you will enjoy a new level of accuracy and credibility with the convenience and economy afforded with Internet-based software and services.

When analyzed properly breast thermography has demonstrated it can detect the earliest signs of breast cancer. But, with twenty qualitative and quantitative thermal markers indicating functional behavior of the breasts, the analysis and reporting of breast thermogram interpretations often requires significant expenditure of time.

Most breast thermograms represent normal, healthy breasts, so the time required for their analysis is minimal; however, properly interpreting complicated thermograms demands substantial time. And, as a positive thermogram indicates referral for further diagnostic studies, the time required for reporting thermographic findings to the radiologist is an additional source of practice expense. Succinctly put, the expense of a thorough analysis and report of thermographic findings can exceed the charge for the procedure.

TAS's Breast Thermography Evaluation program greatly reduces the time required for interpretation, and completely eliminates the time and expense attendant to reporting thermographic findings. The total cost for each thermogram analyzed using the program is only $35.00, significantly less than the cost of the practitioner's time to analyze a mildly complex breast thermogram without the program.

The TAS program was written to impart Gautherie's expertise to less experienced individuals. Paramedical personnel quickly become competent at producing accurate results after only minimal training using the computerized system[1].

Commenting on the computerized breast thermography evaluation program, Gautherie wrote, "..analysts who initially had no experience in thermographic interpretation and were trained to use the computer-assisted protocol for only a short period of time were able to produce results similar to those obtained by the analysts who were using the system..for more than 3 years." And, in furtherance to Gautherie's comment, it has been demonstrated that office personnel with minimal training[1] are also capable of replicating the accuracy achieved by trained paramedical personnel and accomplished analysts.

Recognition that lack of expertise precludes proper assessment of the complex images, and awareness of the expenses associated with "in-house" interpretation are both common and pragmatic reasons offered by practitioners employing third-party reading services for breast thermogram interpretations.

Selecting a reading service begs the question of the accuracy, objectivity and credibility that can be expected from the reading service selected. Absent the knowledge attendant to performing the interpretations is particularly disadvantageous when choosing a reading service. In this regard, the most important question to be answered is: Does the candidate service employ a widely-accepted assessment technique such as the gold standard Gautherie interpretation method, or does it rely on a method created by a practitioner's own limited observations?

The TAS reading service emulates the Gautherie interpretation protocol. Several other interpretation techniques are mere subsets of Gautherie's technique, and numerous breast thermography practices tout their own method based on limited clinical observations and correlation with other diagnostic modalities[2]. Needless to say, if accuracy and credibility are the objectives, caution must be exercised when selecting a reading service.

The net cost of using the TAS reading service is about 30% less than competitive services.

Charges by reading services or practitioners offering breast thermogram interpretations range from about $45 to $55 per thermogram. TAS charges $45 per reading, but there is no additional overhead to contend with, as all communications are conducted by email exchange. The TAS reading service thus represents a savings of $10 to $20 per thermogram.

TAS welcomes the opportunity to service practioners' breast thermogram interpretation needs. It would be remiss, however, to not underscore that the ease of use of the TAS breast thermography evaluation program generally precludes the necessity to resort to a third-party reading service.

The majority of examinations indicate normal, healthy breasts. Using the TAS program requires only about one minute to perform an assessment of breast thermal images to generate a report of thermographic findings confirming normalcy. Even the most complicated thermal images require less than five minutes to perform an accurate and objective analysis. With the availability of such an efficient tool, why should the practitioner increase cost by resorting to a third-party reading service? If the practitioner's goals are accurate, objective and credible results there is no reason to seek a third-party assessment.

Employing a third-party service to shift potential malpractice liability from the practitioner to the reading service is another reason offered for employing third-party services for breast thermogram assessment. But, this is only a myth touted in an effort to increase reading service revenue. Courts have ruled that the primary practitioner bears the ultimate responsibility for reviewing and correlating third-party findings with other diagnostic modalities. It is appropriate to consult a reading service to corroborate thermographic findings, especially if there is uncertainty associated with complicated images, but employing a third-party interpreter to avoid malpractice liability can be an expensive mistake.

Now that the most accurate and credible interpretation method is available to all practitioners via the Internet, the most economical solution to the interpretation of breast thermograms is to routinely use the TAS Breast Thermography Evaluation program, resorting to the reading service for corroborative affirmation only when it is necessary.