Thermal Characteristics of Breast Surface Temperature in Healthy Women

Abstract

Thermography is widely used in the medical field, including in the detection of breast disorders. The aim of the research was to characterize the range of breast surface temperature values, taking into account the entire area of the mammary gland and, independently, the nipple, in healthy women. An additional aim was to assess the symmetry of the breast temperature distribution (using an IR camera) and the correlation of temperatures with the content of adipose tissue. Thermograms were made for the right and left breasts, each time delineating the area of the entire breast and a separate area of the nipple, chest, and abdomen. Analyzing the intergroup differences in temperature of selected body areas (Tmean), it was shown that, in all cases, they were significantly higher in younger women. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between breast and nipple temperatures in relation to the body sides. The highest temperatures within the mammary gland were recorded for the nipple area. The use of the high-resolution digital infrared thermal imaging method in early and screening preventive diagnoses of changes in the mammary gland requires individual interpretation of the results, taking into account the assessment of the physiological pattern of temperature distribution in both breasts.

Effects of Continuous Infusion of Lidocaine under Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Sympathetic Ganglion Catheterization on Cerebral Hemodynamics and Thermal Imaging Characteristics of Head and Neck in Patients with Angioneurotic Headache

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Use of Infrared Thermography in Medical Diagnosis, Screening, and Disease Monitoring: A Scoping Review

“…In order to be able to use ocular surface temperature for diagnostic purposes, they name some caveats, e.g., age and forehead temperature of the patient in question; however, taking these into account, the present reference values can be applied for the investigation of ocular pathologies. Finally, Lubkowska et al aimed to thermografically determine the distribution and range of surface temperatures of the entire breast, chest, and abdomen in 105 healthy women with normal weight aged 20-40 years [52]. Despite inter-individual differences, they did not find statistically significant differences in the distribution of temperature between both sides of the body in women with normal weight, confirming basic symmetry in healthy tissue.…”

A Review on Thermal Imaging-Based Breast Cancer Detection Using Deep Learning

“…e metabolic activity of cancerous cells changes the temperature profile of the breast region, causing an asymmetric temperature distribution between the contralateral sides of the breast [24]. Skin temperature differences in symmetric body parts provide objective evidence that something is wrong [25].…”