A new type of breast contact thermography plate: a preliminary and qualitative investigation of its potentiality on phantoms

Gian Carlo Montruccoli 1, Daniele Montruccoli Salmi 1, Franco Casali 2

1. Toniolo Private Clinic, Bologna (Italy)

2. Department of Physics, University of Bologna (Italy)

Manuscript received: September 4, 2003; revised: November 5, 2003

Accepted for publication: November 12, 2003

Abstract

Detection of angiogenesis, which is present from the earliest phases of breast cancer development needs evaluation of subtle functional blood supply variations. To this purpose we investigated, by means of physical phantoms, the technical imaging obtained by a new type of cholesteric liquid crystal plate. We have performed 4 tests, comparing two plates: A, the subject of the present paper, and B, one that is commercially available.

Aspects of the superficial heat distribution associated with the anatomic arrangement of blood vessels in the breast were simulated by perspex phantoms containing electrical heat resistances and where their functional activity was simulated by small tubes in which warm water circulated. The plate A exhibited far superior spatial resolution, image retention and rapidity of response. These experiments can help in the characterisation of a cholesteric liquid crystal plate and in a better understanding of the blood circulation imaging.

keywords: Thermographic plate features, Contact thermography, Breast disease.

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