The following information was provided by visiting Thermographer and Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Kate Kennedy, ND.*
What is Breast Thermography? (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging or DITI)
Thermography is a procedure that detects the subtle physiologic changes that accompany breast pathology, whether it is cancer, fibrocystic disease, an infection, or a vascular disease. It is a valuable procedure for alerting your doctor to changes that can indicate early-stage breast disease.
The Procedure
This quick and easy test starts with your medical history being taken before you partially disrobe for the scan to be performed. The first session provides the baseline of your “thermal signature.” A subsequent session approximately 3 months later assures that the patterns remain unchanged. All of your breast images are kept on record and any changes can be detected during routine annual studies.
- Non-invasive
- No radiation
- Painless
- No contact with the body
- F.D.A cleared technology
What to Expect
Expect for the first scan to take about 45 minutes. Follow-up breast scans might take 30 minutes, which includes a review of the medical history. The scans are sent electronically to a panel of medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy for review, and are returned to the thermographer in a few days. Then the results are shared with the patient in a password-protected email, or can be sent through US mail. The thermographer is available to discuss the results, if need be, at no additional charge.
Copies of the thermography reports can be shared with the patient’s primary care providers. If further testing is indicated, the patient will be informed.
Who is the Procedure For?
The following people can benefit from breast thermography:
- people ages 30 – 50 whose denser breast tissue makes it more difficult for mammography to be effective.
- people who, for various reasons, are unable to undergo routine mammography, or choose not to.
- those looking to provide a ‘clinical marker’ to the doctor or mammographer that a specific area of the breast needs particularly close examination.
Thermography is an adjunctive diagnostic test which does not replace other tests such as mammography. The bottom line is that early detection saves lives.
Costs of Thermography Services
In addition to breast scans, other areas of the body can be scanned as well.
1 Region of Interest: 30 minute appointment ….. $195
Head, Breast, Abdomen, Lower Extremities, or Upper Extremities
2 Regions of Interest: 30 minute appointment ….. $285
3 Regions of Interest or Half Body: 60 minute appointment ….. $385
Full Body: 60 minute appointment ….. $460
All prices include the thermologist’s (MD/DO) interpretation fee and follow-up review by phone. Do you have a FLEX plan or HSA? Usually these plans cover thermography.
About Me
I am Dr. Kate Kennedy, ND, and I have added Thermography to my scope of practice in Great Falls, where I’ve been a practicing Naturopath for more than 16 years.
As a Naturopathic physician, I have had many patients utilize Thermography in their health regimen (especially breast health) and have come to believe very strongly in the power of Thermography as an early pathology detection tool. It is extremely important to me that my patients in central and western Montana are able to continue with annual Thermography, so I became a Certified Thermographer in 2022. Scanning is available at my Naturopathic clinic in Great Falls at any time.
If you would like more information or to schedule an appointment in Missoula, please call my Great Falls office at (406) 727-6680 or email [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
Dr. Kate Kennedy, ND
At Natura Health & Wellness in 2025:
February 17th-18th
May 5th-6th
August 11th-12th
November 10th-11th
406-727-6680 [email protected]
*Dr. Kennedy is a board certified Thermologist by the American College of Clinical Thermology (ACCT).