Infrared breast examination

Breast infrared examination, also known as near-infrared breast scanning, is a medical examination method for examining women's breasts. Through this examination method, it is possible to check whether there are any diseases in women's breasts. If a disease is found, it is also convenient for women to receive timely treatment and prevent the disease from worsening. Next, I will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about near-infrared breast scanning!

1. Normal value

Normal breast tissue is supplied by internal and external branches and intercostal blood vessels, which are evenly distributed and run naturally. Since most of the near-infrared breast scanners produced in my country use visible light and some use near-infrared light, when the breast is transilluminated, most of the light can penetrate, and it appears on the monitor as blood vessels running according to the normal anatomical structure and a uniform translucent area, forming a positive ring, that is, the center of the light source is bright and the concentric circles are dark.

2. Clinical Significance

Abnormal results: When an inverted ring appears on the breast, that is, the center of the light source is dark and the surrounding area is bright, it indicates that the breast is abnormal.

When breast cancer occurs, the cancer tissue secretes a factor that promotes angiogenesis, causing the cancer bed to grow blood vessels and become congested, and increasing oxygenated hemoglobin. When near-infrared rays are irradiated to the breast, the near-infrared rays are absorbed, which appears on the monitor as dark light absorption and abnormal blood vessel shadows, and an inverted ring image appears in the breast. In the early stages of breast cancer, even in stage TO breast cancer, changes in hemoglobin can occur, so near-infrared breast scanners can be used for early diagnosis of breast cancer.

When breast hyperplasia is accompanied by chronic inflammation, due to repeated stimulation of inflammation, there will also be blood vessel clustering, congestion, and increased oxygenated hemoglobin. Therefore, during near-infrared examination, these cases will also show near-infrared manifestations of breast cancer and be misdiagnosed as breast cancer, resulting in false positive results. There are also a small number of breast cancers that may not show hemoglobin changes not only in the early stages, but even when the tumor grows larger. Therefore, for these patients, near-infrared may produce false-negative results. People who need to be examined: People who feel lumps in their breasts.

3. Notes

Unsuitable group: breastfeeding women. Taboos before examination: Choose to check 7-10 days after the end of menstruation.

Requirements during the examination: Relax during the examination. The examination may cause physical and mental burden, so you should face it positively and actively cooperate with the examination. The examination requires exposing your breasts, so you should wear clothes on your upper body that are easy to take off. For patients with breast disease who are initially diagnosed, if the physical examination is not satisfactory, the patient can be asked to cooperate and undergo another examination at the best time, such as around the 10th day of the menstrual cycle, to avoid interference caused by physiological changes in the breast during the menstrual cycle. Adequate lighting should be provided during the examination to avoid overlooking signs caused by minor lesions. The patient will experience slight distension and pain, but there is no need to be nervous. Infrared may cause cancer risks to the body, so check it out only when necessary.