Thermalytix™ Breast Screening Performance: Results from a Real-World Community Study

Introduction

Despite significant advances in breast cancer treatment, many women continue to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease, particularly in regions where access to screening remains limited. Early detection remains one of the most important factors in improving outcomes and increasing survival rates.

However, implementing population-wide mammography screening programs is not always feasible in resource-constrained environments due to infrastructure requirements, operational costs, and logistical challenges.

Thermalytix™ offers an innovative alternative to support breast health screening initiatives. The technology combines high-resolution thermal imaging with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze physiological patterns and generate automated breast health risk assessments.

In addition to being portable and radiation-free, the system requires minimal operator training and offers significantly lower operating costs compared to traditional screening approaches.

Study Objective

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance of Thermalytix™ in identifying women with suspected breast abnormalities through community-based screening programs conducted in real-world settings.

Methodology

The study included women who participated in community breast screening programs across the Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra between August 2017 and May 2021.

During screening, the Thermalytix™ system captured five thermal images from multiple views for each participant. Based on these images, the platform automatically generated a screening report and assigned a breast health risk score known as the "B Score," ranging from 0 to 5.

Follow-up recommendations were determined as follows:

• B Score 4 or 5: referral for additional diagnostic evaluation, including breast ultrasound.
• B Score 3: repeat Thermalytix™ screening after three months.
• B Score 1 or 2: continuation of routine screening.

Women identified with higher levels of concern were followed up to collect information regarding subsequent diagnostic investigations and clinical outcomes.

Results

The study analyzed data from 13,932 women.

Among participants, 775 reported a breast lump. Following Thermalytix™ screening, 625 women received B Scores of 4 or 5 and were referred for further evaluation.

Among those who completed follow-up diagnostic assessments:

• 74 benign breast lesions were identified.
• 4 malignant breast lesions were detected.

The results demonstrated a positive predictive value of 66.7% in identifying benign and malignant breast abnormalities, highlighting the technology's ability to support effective triage and referral of women who may require further clinical assessment.

What Do These Results Mean?

The findings reinforce the potential of Thermalytix™ as a practical solution for large-scale breast screening programs, particularly in regions where traditional mammography programs face implementation challenges.

Key advantages highlighted by the study include:

• Portable and easy-to-deploy technology.
• Radiation-free screening.
• Minimal operator training requirements.
• Lower operational costs.
• Suitability for remote and underserved communities.
• Support for early identification of women requiring further evaluation.

These characteristics make the technology particularly well suited for community outreach initiatives, public health programs, and healthcare environments with limited access to specialized infrastructure.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate the potential of Thermalytix™ as a scalable, portable, and radiation-free solution for supporting breast screening programs in resource-constrained communities.

Its ability to operate in remote settings with minimal infrastructure requirements, combined with the power of artificial intelligence, makes it a promising option for expanding access to early detection and supporting public health strategies focused on prevention and timely diagnosis.

Source: The Lancet Oncology – “AI-based breast cancer screening in community settings: a real-world evaluation study”