Thermal Evaluation to Identify Nodules Using Semivariogram Curves

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics
• Oncology

Background:

• Thermography offers a non-invasive method for early tumor diagnosis.
• Identifying suspicious nodules is crucial for timely medical evaluation.
• Early detection of neoplasms can prevent metastasis and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate semivariogram curves for analyzing spatial thermal behavior around nodules.
• To capture thermal information surrounding potential tumor sites.
• To assess the utility of thermography in differentiating tumorous and healthy tissues.

Main Methods:

• Utilized R-Studio software for data analysis.
• Applied theoretical semivariogram models to thermal data.
• Analyzed spatial patterns and thermal averages in both healthy and tumorous regions.

Main Results:

• Semivariogram analysis revealed Gaussian spatial behavior in both healthy and tumor areas.
• Significant differences in thermal averages were observed between healthy and tumorous regions.
• All evaluated tumors showed distinct thermal signatures compared to healthy tissue, irrespective of spatial model similarity.

Conclusions:

• Thermography, analyzed with semivariogram models, can effectively differentiate tumorous tissue from healthy tissue.
• The technique aids in the early identification of nodules requiring further analysis.
• This approach supports the non-invasive, early diagnosis of neoplasms, potentially reducing metastasis risk.