Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Consumer Updates

Consumer Updates

                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español Home
          For Consumers
          Consumer Updates
          Breast Cancer Screening: Thermogram No Substitute for MammogramConsumer Updates Breast Cancer Screening: Thermogram No Substitute for Mammogram
  
  	
    Subscribe to Email Updates
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintImage
              A mammogram (left) is an X-ray image of the breast that can identify tissue types with different densities, such as masses within the breast. Thermography (right) produces an infrared image that shows the patterns of heat on or near the surface of the body.


  Caption
        
      A mammogram (L) is an X-ray image of the breast that can identify tissue types with different densities, such as masses within the breast. Thermography (R) produces an infrared image that shows the patterns of heat on or near the surface of the body.Español

Proper breast cancer screening checks for cancer even before there may be signs and symptoms of the disease. Mammography (low-dose X-ray imaging of the breast) is still the most effective primary screening method for detecting breast cancer in its early, most treatable stages.

Some health centers provide information that can mislead patients into believing thermography, a type of test that shows patterns of heat on or near the surface of the body, is a proven alternative to mammography. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not aware of any scientific evidence to support these claims.

Thermography has not been shown to be effective as a standalone test for breast cancer screening and detecting early-stage breast cancer.

Mammography vs. Thermography

The FDA regulates the medical devices used for breast cancer screening.

About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime in their lives, reports the National Cancer Institute. Men can develop breast cancer, but it happens much less often than in women. Early detection of breast cancer by using mammography reduces the risk of breast cancer death and increases treatment options, according to the American Cancer Society. One of the greatest risks from thermography is that those who opt for this method instead of mammography may miss the chance to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage.

Thermography devices have only been cleared by the FDA as an “adjunctive” tool, referring to use alongside a primary screening test like mammography. Patients who undergo a thermography test alone should not be reassured of the findings because the device was not cleared to be used without another testing method like mammography. (For more about mammography, including how it works and how to find a certified facility, visit Mammography: What You Need to Know.)

Moreover, some websites claim thermography can find breast cancer years before it would be detected through other methods, and they have unproven claims about improved detection of cancer in dense breasts using thermography. The FDA is not aware of any evidence that supports these claims.

The FDA has taken, and will continue to take, appropriate regulatory action against thermography device manufacturers who market thermography devices as an alternative to mammography.

Advice for Patients Getting Breast Cancer Screening

Some women have sought out thermography because it is painless and does not require exposure to radiation.

If you are worried about how a mammogram feels, talk to your health care professional about what you can expect. A mammogram can be uncomfortable for the person being screened because it briefly presses on the breast to spread the breast tissue and increase the clarity of the X-ray image. (For more about what to expect during a mammogram, visit Mammography.)

Also talk to your health care professional if you have specific questions about mammography, including questions about when and how frequently you should be screened. As a rule, also call your health care professional if you notice any change in either of your breasts such as a lump, area of thickening of or leakage from the nipple, or changes in how the nipple looks.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/06/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Medical Devices
			  			     			  						              
			
			
			
			
			
			
			  
			  RadiologyConsumer Updates

          
                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español
 Consumer Updates Email
                        Subscribe to receive Consumer Updates email notifications.
    Subscribe to Consumer Updates
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop