The FDA published information in Journal Watch in June of 2011 that is packed with presumptive and incorrect information about breast thermography and they have to know it! Breast thermography was approved in 1982 as an adjunct to mammography to evaluate for breast cancer. In 2004 the FDA rejected breast thermography as a stand alone test for breast cancer screening by a vote of 5-4. Three of the members voting against it had a conflict of interest because of ties to the mammography industry.
Nonetheless Helen Barr, MD, the director of the Division of Mammography Quality and Radiation Programs in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health stated, "While there is plenty of evidence that mammography is effective in breast cancer detection, there is simply no evidence that thermography can take its place." Come on, Dr. Barr, keep up with the current and the old literature on this much needed test!
