How thermography works
Your body tells a story.
Thermography helps you read it.
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) captures the heat your body naturally radiates — revealing patterns of inflammation, lymphatic activity, nerve function, and physiological change that other imaging simply cannot see.
What is thermography?
Seeing health through the language of heat
Every cell in your body generates heat as it works. When something changes — inflammation develops, blood flow shifts, lymphatic congestion builds, nerve activity increases — the heat pattern at the surface of your skin changes too. We capture those changes as a detailed, colorful thermal image.
This makes thermography unique among imaging technologies. A mammogram looks for a structural change — a lump that has already formed. Thermography looks for a physiological change — the altered heat signature that often appears long before any structural change is visible.
One of thermography’s most important capabilities is lymphatic imaging. The lymphatic system plays a critical role in immune function, detoxification, and breast health — and thermography is one of the only non-invasive tools that can visualize lymphatic activity and congestion.
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging has been FDA registered since 1982 and is backed by over 800 peer-reviewed studies involving more than 300,000 patients.
1982
Year DITI was FDA registered for clinical use
800+
Peer-reviewed studies in published medical literature
300K+
Patients included across clinical thermography studies
95%
Detection rate when DITI is combined with mammography
Thermography vs. mammography
These two tests are not competitors — they are complementary. Each sees something the other cannot.
Thermography — a test of physiology
Mammography — a test of anatomy
Common questions
Questions we hear all the time
Honest answers to the things patients most want to know.
Can thermography diagnose cancer?
No — and this is really important to understand. No imaging test can diagnose cancer. Cancer can only be diagnosed through a biopsy and lab analysis. What thermography can do is detect areas of abnormal heat activity that may warrant further investigation — often earlier than other methods. Think of it as an early warning system, not a diagnostic tool.
Is it safe? Does it use radiation?
Completely safe — and no radiation whatsoever. We simply detect and record the infrared heat your body naturally emits. No contact, no compression, no injection, and no radiation of any kind. 100% safe for women of all ages, including those with breast implants, and the only breast imaging technology safe during pregnancy.
Why do I need two scans 90 days apart?
Your thermal pattern is as unique to you as a fingerprint — but we need two images taken 90 days apart to confirm that your pattern is stable. This establishes your personal baseline. The 90-day rescan is breast tissue only and priced at $150. Once your baseline is established, a single annual scan is typically all that’s needed.
Will my insurance cover it?
Most insurance providers do not currently cover thermographic imaging. You’ll receive a receipt for your visit which may be used as a medical expense for tax purposes. We’re happy to answer any questions about fees — just reach out.
I have more questions — who can I ask?
Jennifer loves hearing from patients who are curious about thermography! She’s always happy to help you figure out whether thermography is right for you. Get in touch here →
What to expect
What happens at your appointment
Your scan is relaxed, private, and comfortable from start to finish.
Step 01
Arrive, disrobe & acclimate
You’ll partially disrobe for the areas being scanned, then spend 10–15 minutes in a climate-controlled room (68–72°F) allowing your skin temperature to equalize evenly.
Step 02
Health history
Jennifer will take a brief medical history before your scan begins — understanding your health background helps ensure your images are interpreted in the right context.
Step 03
The scan
Once your skin has fully acclimated, Jennifer begins capturing your thermal images. The camera never touches you — quick, effortless, and completely comfortable.
Step 04
Your report
Your images are sent securely to a board-certified MD thermologist who interprets them and writes your report. Results within 5–7 business days.
The research
Decades of clinical evidence
Thermography has been studied extensively for over 40 years.
83%
Of breast cancers detected by thermography alone in landmark Canadian research
Canadian infrared imaging study, index medicus
95%
Detection rate when thermography is combined with mammography
ACCT clinical research summary
61%
Improvement in long-term survival rates for patients who include thermography in their health program
ACCT clinical research summary
Your health, in full color
Ready to see what thermography can reveal?
Jennifer will personally guide you to the right scan for where you are in your health journey.