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EAST LONGMEADOW The Counseling and Gynecology Group will be offering an open to the public Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) screening on March 6. DITI is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. "A mammography is an after the fact [kind of x-ray]. It picks up abnormalities once they have formed," explained Max Chorowski, M.D. "[DITI] is more proactive. If cells are multiplying at a greater rate, it generates more heat. Thermal imaging is trying to see the vascular patterns in the breast. If patterns are more active, than we know that [the patient is] at higher risk for breast problems and we may be able to do something [to prevent an occurrence]." Chorowski said that options available to patients differ since each is treated on a case by case basis. For an example, in a mild case, if there seems to be more of a heat pattern, than one option available may be a nutritional supplement. For more severe abnormal cases, they might suggest that the patient advance the date of their next mammogram. "It's not meant to replace a mammogram, it supplements it. [DITI] predicts the future or suggests a higher level of surveillance," he said. The Counseling and Gynecology Group has not set continual dates to host DITI for women in the public that are interested in receiving a test. "We're still accessing the communities response to this," he explained. "[Right now] we're anticipating that this is going to be quarterly." Chorowski said there is a modest fee for the DITI examine. He said insurance companies are not too sympathetic to paying for the screening because the mammogram already exists and they prefer to keep their costs down. "I am trying to go one step earlier than [the mammogram] and try to prevent the cancer in the first place," Chorowski added. There are still slots available for a DITI screening on March 6. The Counseling and Gynecology Group is located at 281 Maple Street in East Longmeadow. Anyone interested can contact the office at 525-4546. | ||||||
