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Infrared thermography: experience from a decade of pediatric imaging

Amulya K Saxena1, Günter H Willital

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. amulya.saxena@meduni-graz.at

European Journal of Pediatrics
|September 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a feasible, non-invasive tool for diagnosing and monitoring pediatric conditions. This technique offers objective, repeatable assessments for various pathologies in children.

Area of Science:

  • Medical imaging
  • Pediatric diagnostics
  • Non-invasive monitoring

Background:

  • Clinical application of infrared thermography (IRT) in pediatrics requires evaluation.
  • Identifying pediatric pathologies diagnosable and followable with IRT is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of clinical IRT in pediatric patients.
  • To identify specific pediatric conditions amenable to IRT diagnosis and follow-up.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time computer-assisted IRT performed on 285 pediatric patients (1 week-16 years) over 10 years (1990-2000).
  • 483 examinations conducted, measuring temperature in degrees C with computer-analyzed color images.
  • Data stored on floppy discs for analysis.

Main Results:

  • IRT demonstrated excellent utility in follow-up cases including hemangiomas, vascular malformations, reimplanted digits, burns, and post-biomaterial implant monitoring in gastroschisis/omphalocele.
  • In emergency settings, IRT was valuable for rapid diagnosis of extremity thrombosis, varicoceles, inflammation, abscesses, gangrene, and wound infections.
  • IRT provided objective, repeatable results via color images.

Conclusions:

  • Infrared thermography is a safe, non-invasive, and effective diagnostic and follow-up tool for the pediatric population.
  • The technique requires no sedation or anesthesia, allowing for repeated examinations.
  • Periodic thermographic studies are a useful and reproducible method for long-term monitoring of pediatric lesions.

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