Could infrared thermal imaging be a new diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis?
acute appendicitis
acute inflammation
diagnostic tool
infrared imaging
thermal camera
Journal
Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University
ISSN: 1899-5276
Titre abrégé: Adv Clin Exp Med
Pays: Poland
ID NLM: 101138582
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2019
03 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
20
1
2019
medline:
14
8
2019
entrez:
20
1
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Appendicitis is the most frequent acute abdominal disease and there are actual effective diagnostic tools for its detection. The objective of this study was to determine whether a thermal imaging camera is a useful tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis on the basis of abdominal skin surface temperature changes which reflect intra-abdominal inflammation. The prospective data consisting of surgical and pathological findings of 51 patients who had undergone appendectomy between January 2013 and December 2014 with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was collected, as well as thermal imaging camera recordings. A handheld infrared (IR) thermal imaging camera (ITIC) was used to take measurements. Of the 51 patients studied, 30 were male and 21 were female. Of these, 12 had their highest temperature measurement in the epigastric and 17 in the umbilical areas. These 2 groups constituted 56.9% of the patients. Regarding the lowest temperature measurement, 10 patients had the lowest temperature in the right inguinal and 15 in the hypogastric area. These 2 numbers constituted 49% of the patients. This is the first report concerning the use of a thermal camera as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of acute abdominal illness. Considering the results of our study, ITIC is not feasible as a new diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis. It may be suitable for determining superficial inflammation; however, it is not suitable for determining deep inflammation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Appendicitis is the most frequent acute abdominal disease and there are actual effective diagnostic tools for its detection.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to determine whether a thermal imaging camera is a useful tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis on the basis of abdominal skin surface temperature changes which reflect intra-abdominal inflammation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The prospective data consisting of surgical and pathological findings of 51 patients who had undergone appendectomy between January 2013 and December 2014 with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was collected, as well as thermal imaging camera recordings. A handheld infrared (IR) thermal imaging camera (ITIC) was used to take measurements.
RESULTS
Of the 51 patients studied, 30 were male and 21 were female. Of these, 12 had their highest temperature measurement in the epigastric and 17 in the umbilical areas. These 2 groups constituted 56.9% of the patients. Regarding the lowest temperature measurement, 10 patients had the lowest temperature in the right inguinal and 15 in the hypogastric area. These 2 numbers constituted 49% of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report concerning the use of a thermal camera as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of acute abdominal illness. Considering the results of our study, ITIC is not feasible as a new diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis. It may be suitable for determining superficial inflammation; however, it is not suitable for determining deep inflammation.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng