Medical Thermography
What is thermal imaging?
Digital Infrared thermal imaging, or DITI, is a totally non-invasive, painless procedure with no radiation and no contact with the body. DITI is a clinical imaging technique that records the thermal patterns of your body. Your thermal images are used by your healthcare practitioner to help diagnose and monitor pain or pathology in any part of your body.
What is thermal imaging used for?
- To help in determining the cause of pain.
- To aid in the early detection of disease and pathology
- To evaluate sensory-nerve irritation or significant soft-tissue injury
- To define a previously diagnosed injury or condition
- To identify an abnormal area for further diagnostic testing
- To follow progress of healing and rehabilitation.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is thermal imaging FDA registered?
Yes. DITI was FDA registered in 1982.
Is thermal imaging covered by insurance?
Some insurance carriers cover thermal imaging. Please check with your individual carrier and study provider.
Does thermal imaging require a doctors referral?
No, anyone can request thermal imaging. However, a doctors referral will be required by your insurance company for reimbursement. A doctors report and referral will also be attached to your study file, to assist the technician imaging and reading doctor’s assessment and report.
What is the cost of thermal imaging?
The cost varies depending on which diagnostic study you are requesting. Please refer to our website for current rates and seasonal available discounts.
What parts of the body can be scanned?
Thermal images are taken of the whole body, or individual regions including breast, head, arm, leg, torso, etc. A lumbar assessment would typically include, low back, pelvis, and legs. A cervical assessment would typically include, head and neck, upper trunk, and arms.
Neurological testing can include a “cold stress test”; this involves placing a hand or foot into a bowl of cool water, or having a cool gel pad applied to any part of the body prior to scanning.
What happens when I have a thermal scan taken?
A thermal scan takes approximately 10 — 45 minutes depending on which part of the body is being scanned. You will remove all jewelry and clothes from the part of the body being scanned (for full body scans you leave lower undergarments on), and will be asked to wear a surgical gown. For a breast scan, you will be ask to disrobe from the waist up. While your skin is equalizing with the room temperature, you will be asked to fill-out appropriate paper work.
What do I have to do to prepare for a thermal scan?
There are a few guidelines for preparing for a thermal scan:
- Do not have physical therapy, massage, or electromyography on the same day thermography is performed
- Do not participate in vigorous exercise 2 hours prior to the test.
- Do not smoke for 2 hours before the test
- Do not use lotions, deodorants, powder or liniments on day of test
- Stay out of strong sunlight on the day of test
- There are no dietary or medication restrictions on the day of your scan but no excessive hot or cold drinks prior to the test.
- Wear loose fitting clothes if possible.
*Do not come for a scan if you have a sunburn on your chest or the area of interest. You would need to wait until all the sunburned area has peeled off.
Who should interpret my scans and write the report?
All thermography interpretations should be reported by adequately trained and experienced doctors who hold board certification as Thermologist. Thermographers should hold certification from a professional body with approved code of ethics and practice protocols that include quality control guidelines.
Thermography Pricing
Women’s Full Body Screening
Women’s Health Screening
Women’s Breast and Lymph Screening
Mens Full Body Screening
Mens Health Screening
Health Overview (4 images)
Spot Image (as addition to 4 or more)
Indications for Thermographic Assessment
Altered Biokinetics | Arteriosclerosis | Brachial Plexus Injury | Biomechanical Impropriety | Breast Disease | Bursitis | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Causalgia | Compartment Syndromes | Cord Pain/Injury | Deep Vein Thrombosis | Disc Disease | Disc Syndromes | Dystrophy | External Carotid Insufficiency | Facet Syndromes | Grafts | Hysteria | Headache Evaluation | Herniated Disc | Herniated Nucleus Pulposis | Hyperaesthesia | Hyperextension Injury | Hyperflexion Injury | Inflammatory Disease | Internal Carotid Insufficiency | Infectious Disease (ex. Shingles) | Lumbosacral Plexus Injury | Ligament Tear | Lower Motor Neuron Disease | Lymphatic Disease | Malingering | Median Nerve Neuropathy | Morton’s Neuroma | Myofascial Irritation | Muscle Tear | Musculoligamentous Spasm | Nerve Entrapment | Nerve Impingement | Nerve Pressure | Nerve Root Irritation | Nerve Stretch Injury | Nerve Trauma | Neuropathy | Neurovascular Compression | Neuralgia | Neuritis | Neuropraxia | Neoplasia-melanoma, squamous cell, basal | Nutritional Disease-Alcoholism | Peripheral Nerve Injury | Peripheral Axon Disease | Prostate Disease | Raynaud’s | Referred Pain Syndrome | Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy | Ruptured Disc | Somatization Disorders | Soft Tissue Injury | Sprain/Strain | Stroke Screening | Sensory Loss | Sensory Nerve Abnormality | Somatic Abnormality | Superficial Vascular Disease | Skin Abnormalities | Thoracic Outlet Syndrome | Trigeminal Neuralgia | Trigger Points | TMJ Dysfunction | Tendonitis | Ulnar Nerve Entrapment | Whiplash