Authors' objectives:

To review the evidence for the effectiveness of infrared thermography for population screening and diagnostic testing of breast cancer. - Topic One - What is the international evidence on the effectiveness, benefits, harms and costs of using infrared thermography as a screening tool for breast cancer? - Topic Two - What is the international evidence on the effectiveness, benefits, harms and costs of using infrared thermography as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for breast cancer?

Authors' results and conclusions: The literature search identified 1,154 potentially relevant articles in abstract form. After a series of selection criteria were applied to the abstracts of the articles, 85 were retrieved in full text, from which a final group of three papers were identified as eligible for inclusion in the review. One study was formally appraised and included in this review for Topic One. This study was of prospective cohort design. Two studies were formally appraised and included for Topic Two, one of these studies was a case-control design and the other was a clinical trial design.

Authors' recommendations: A significant finding of the review conducted for the purpose of this NZHTA Tech Brief was that there were no studies that evaluated the effectiveness of the infrared technology devices that are available in New Zealand. In addition, there were few that evaluated comparable infrared technologies, or technologies that may become available to New Zealand. The evidence that is currently available does not provide enough support for the role of infrared thermography for either population screening or adjuvant diagnostic testing of breast cancer. The major gaps in knowledge at this time can only be addressed by large-scale, prospective randomised trials. More robust research on the effectiveness and costs of technologically advanced infrared thermography devices for population screening and diagnostic testing of breast cancer is needed, and the conclusions of this review should be revisited in the face of additional reliable evidence.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://nzhta.chmeds.ac.nz/publications.htm

Year Published: 2004

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: New Zealand

Organisation Name: New Zealand Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel: +64 3 364 1145; Fax: +64 3 364 1152;

Contact Name: nzhta@chmeds.ac.nz

Contact Email: nzhta@chmeds.ac.nz

Copyright: New Zealand Health Technology Assessment (NZHTA)