Telethermography in the diagnostics and management of malignant melanomas

Telethermography is a harmless, noninvasive method of examining some patients for some conditions. There are more important differential criteria than thermography for the diagnosis of malignant melanomas, but in some cases the proof of a surrounding difference in temperature may make a contribution to the diagnosis of malignant melanoma, especially if it gives decisive information as to the otherwise clinically inapparent extent of the malignancy locally, and thus guides the surgeon to excise widely enough. Also, thermography of the whole body is complementary to established techniques of examination used in evaluation of patients with malignant melanomas. By making visible hypo- or hyperthermic areas, it helps to detect metastases and confirms or denies suspicious findings obtained by other methods of examination.