Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
06:08
Quantitative Visualization and Detection of Skin Cancer Using Dynamic Thermal Imaging
Published on: May 5, 2011
Infrared thermography in cats with squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study
André Gustavo Alves Holanda1, Ana Paula Gárate2, Genilson Fernandes de Queiroz3
1Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Research in Veterinary Science
|June 27, 2026
Summary
Veterinary thermography can detect elevated skin temperatures in cats with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This pilot study found significant temperature differences in the nasal planum and pinna, suggesting potential diagnostic value.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer in cats.
- Early detection and diagnosis of SCC are crucial for effective treatment.
- Non-invasive diagnostic tools are needed to complement traditional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of infrared thermography to detect thermal changes associated with SCC in cats.
- To compare skin temperatures of the nasal planum and pinna between cats with SCC and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A prospective pilot study involving 26 cats with SCC and 9 healthy controls.
- Thermographic images were captured from the nasal planum and pinna.
- Statistical analysis, including ROC curve analysis, was used to compare temperature data.
Main Results:
- Cats with SCC exhibited significantly higher temperatures in both the nasal planum (31.20°C vs 23.50°C) and pinna (33.85°C vs 28.55°C) compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Thermography demonstrated high discriminatory accuracy between groups, with specific temperature cutoffs identified for both locations.
- ROC analysis confirmed the utility of thermography in differentiating cats with SCC from healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- Thermography shows promise in identifying tumor-associated thermal alterations in feline SCC.
- These preliminary findings support further research into the diagnostic and prognostic applications of thermography in veterinary oncology.
- Infrared thermography may serve as a valuable, non-invasive tool for feline SCC assessment.
