THERMOGRAPHY - ITS RELATION TO PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, VASCULARITY, PROLIFERATION RATE, AND SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH INVASIVE DUCTALCARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

BACKGROUND. The reason for the thermal abnormality associated with som e breast cancers is unclear. We previously reported that a thermograph ic abnormality is associated with tumor size and lymph node involvemen t. Despite this association, we were unable to demonstrate an independ ent association between an abnormal thermogram and survival. METHODS. To expand our previous findings, we assessed patients undergoing liqui d crystal (contact) thermography (LCT) to identify a basis for the the rmal abnormality and its relationship to survival. We assessed 420 wom en with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) followed for a mean of 6.2 yea rs. In a consecutive series of 181 patients from the overall group, va scularity was assessed using a Doppler ultrasound (US) and microvessel density (MVD) by immunohistochemical staining with Factor VIII-relate d antigen. The tumor proliferation rate was measured immunohistochemic ally using Ki-67 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS. An abnormal thermogram was found in 18.6% of patients with IDC. A significant association was demonstrated between an abnormal LCT and age, stage, lymph nodal stat us, size, grade, and estrogen receptor status. We found no association between a LCT abnormality and MVD or proliferation rate. There was a significant relationship with US-demonstrated vascularity. In multivar iate analysis, we found that LCT abnormality was not an independent pr ognostic variable for either overall or disease free survival. CONCLUS IONS. hn abnormal thermogram is associated with large tumor size, high grade, and lymph node positivity but not proliferation rate or MVD. I t also may be associated with relatively large regional vessels that c an be identified by US. However, thermography is not an independent pr ognostic indicator. (C) 1996 American Cancer Society.