Infrared thermography of cutaneous melanoma metastases

Abstract

Background Differentiating melanoma metastasis from benign cutaneous lesions currently requires biopsy or costly imaging, such as positron emission tomography scans. Melanoma metastases have been observed to be subjectively warmer than similarly appearing benign lesions. We hypothesized that infrared (IR) thermography would be sensitive and specific in differentiating palpable melanoma metastases from benign lesions. Materials and methods Seventy-four patients (36 females and 38 males) had 251 palpable lesions imaged for this pilot study. Diagnosis was determined using pathologic confirmation or clinical diagnosis. Lesions were divided into size strata for analysis: 0–5, >5–15, >15–30, and >30 mm. Images were scored on a scale from −1 (colder than the surrounding tissue) to +3 (significantly hotter than the surrounding tissue). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each stratum. Logistical challenges were scored. Results IR imaging was able to determine the malignancy of small (0–5 mm) lesions with a sensitivity of 39% and specificity of 100%. For lesions >5–15 mm, sensitivity was 58% and specificity 98%. For lesions >15–30 mm, sensitivity was 95% and specificity 100%, and for lesions >30 mm, sensitivity was 78% and specificity 89%. The positive predictive value was 88%–100% across all strata, and the negative predictive value was 95% for >15–30 mm lesions and 80% for >30 mm lesions. Conclusions Malignant lesions >15 mm were differentiated from benign lesions with excellent sensitivity and specificity. IR imaging was well tolerated and feasible in a clinic setting. This pilot study shows promise in the use of thermography for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma with further potential as a noninvasive tool to follow tumor responses to systemic therapies.

Application of infrared thermography in computer aided diagnosis

“…Table 3 details the work published on CAD systems for breast cancer detection. [161] 2007 2a 1 ---Jakubowska et al [162] 2003 4b 1 ---Ng et al [163] 2002 3b 3 61.54 68.97 40 Frize et al [164] 2002 2b 1 ---Kuruganti and Qi [165] 2002 3b 1 ---Ng et al [166] 2001 3b 2 59 54 67 Ng et al [167] 2001 3b ----Keyserlingk et al [168] 1998 2a 1 ---Thompson et al [169] 1978 2b 1 ---Folberth and Heim [170] 1984 2a [172] 2013 2a 1 ---Garcia-Romero et al [174] 2013 2a 1 ---Shada et al [173] 2013 2a 2 -95 100 Cholewka et al [175] 2012 2a 1 ---Flores-Sahagun et al [171] 2011 1a 1 ---Aweda et al [176] 2010 2a 1 ---Buzug et al [177] 2006 3a 1 ---Button et al [59] 2004 2a 1 ---…”

“…IRT can be used to capture the heat patterns of the skin and the resulting images can be used for diagnosis. The sensitivity of the CAD system depends on the lesion diameter [173]. Table 4 details the work published on CAD systems for skin cancer detection.…”

Supportive Noninvasive Tool for the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Using a Thermographic Camera as Sensor

“…Cancer diagnosis using IR thermography is possible since there is a relation between an increment of temperature in the skin and the presence of a tumor, as established by [30]. Because of this, by using this sensing technology, the detection of multiple types of cancer, such as melanoma [31], is possible. Specifically, for breast cancer detection, it is said that asymmetrical breast temperature can be indicative both of vascular problems or cancer in such a region [32].…”

An Infrared Absorbance Sensor for the Detection of Melanoma in Skin Biopsies

“…Infrared thermography records the radiation emitted by the human body with no need for external illumination. Attempts to localize cutaneous melanomas by infrared thermography have been made by several research groups [18,19,20]. However, infrared thermography does not permit us to distinguish between different kinds of skin cancers and requires careful calibration for the correct assignment of temperature to emitted radiation [9].…”