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Quantitative Visualization and Detection of Skin Cancer Using Dynamic Thermal Imaging
Published on: May 5, 2011
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SIMULATION OF DISCRETE BLOOD VESSEL EFFECTS ON THE THERMAL SIGNATURE OF A MELANOMA LESION
Sri Kamal Kandala1, Daxiang Deng2, Cila Herman3
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition : [Proceedings]. International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
|October 21, 2014
Summary
Underlying blood vessels significantly impact skin surface temperature, affecting melanoma detection. Computational models reveal vessel size and location influence thermal readings in cancerous lesions and surrounding tissue.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Thermal Analysis
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Accurate detection of malignant melanoma is crucial for effective treatment.
- Thermal imaging shows promise for non-invasive lesion diagnosis.
- The influence of subcutaneous blood vessels on skin surface temperature is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of underlying blood vessels on the transient thermal response of skin with and without melanoma.
- To analyze how blood vessel parameters influence thermal signatures of skin lesions.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 3D computational model using COMSOL Multiphysics.
- Application of the Pennes bio-heat equation to simulate heat transfer in skin and melanoma.
- Modeling blood vessels as pipe flow with a constant heat transfer coefficient.
Main Results:
- Blood vessel diameter, location, and flow velocity significantly alter skin surface temperature.
- The presence of blood vessels demonstrably affects the thermal signature of melanoma lesions.
- Subcutaneous vasculature influences the temperature of surrounding healthy skin tissue.
Conclusions:
- Underlying blood vessels play a critical role in the thermal response of skin and melanoma.
- Existing thermal detection methods may require adjustments to account for vascular effects.
- Further research is needed to develop robust evaluation criteria for melanoma detection in the presence of blood vessels.
