Infrared thermography

Infrared thermography is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared thermal camera captures infrared radiation which can be used for a variety of medical and scientific applications.

Overview

Infrared thermography is based on the principle that the amount of infrared radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature. This technique is used in medicine for the early detection of diseases that can cause a change in the thermal pattern of the skin.

Applications

Infrared thermography has a wide range of applications in medicine. It is used in the diagnosis of breast cancer, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and other conditions. It can also be used to monitor the healing process in wounds and burns, and to detect inflammation in joints and muscles.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of infrared thermography is that it is non-invasive and painless. It does not require any contact with the body, and it does not use any harmful radiation. It can be used to scan large areas of the body in a short time, and it can provide a visual map of temperature distribution on the skin surface.

Limitations

Despite its advantages, infrared thermography also has some limitations. It can only measure surface temperature, and it cannot provide information about the temperature inside the body. It can also be affected by environmental factors such as room temperature and humidity.

See also

• Thermography
• Medical imaging
• Infrared

References

Infrared thermography Resources
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