Application of infrared thermography as a complementary technique to conventional imaging techniques in paediatrics: case studies

ABSTRACT

The use of infrared thermography has been shown to be useful in several areas. Its applicability in medicine is based on the fact that the skin emits spontaneously and continuously infrared radiation, whose body distribution is symmetrical in a healthy individual. Infrared thermography can offer an alternative to X-rays for a large number of diseases related to peripheral circulation, and so can avoid the use of biologically ionising radiation. This is of special interest in paediatric patients who, because of their age, are more radiosensitive. We present a prospective descriptive study of four children with haemangioma, cutaneous infection, infectious and inflammatory osteoarticular disorders. The objective of this study is double, on the one hand, to evaluate the use of infrared thermography for the diagnosis and follow-up, through quantitative and qualitative analysis of the temperature differences between symmetric zones and, on the other hand, to apply infrared thermography in paediatrics in combination with standard imaging techniques.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermal image
• children
• haemangioma
• cutaneous infection and osteoarticular disorders

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the patients and their families for their valuable contribution, and to all people of the Pediatrics Department and of the others collaborators departments of Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valencia for the facilities and help offered for the realisation of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the University of Valencia and INCLIVA (Project VLC-Bioclinic-A-2017-Pediaterm).

Notes on contributors

Olga Benavent Casanova

Olga Benavent Casanova is a specialist in pediatrics at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain, and she is currently medical staff of Pediatric Department and Oncological and Hematological Pediatric Section in that hospital. Her research interests include the evaluation of pediatric patients using non-invasive image techniques.

Francisco Núñez Gómez

Francisco Núñez Gómez is a specialist in pediatrics at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain. He is currently chief of the Pediatric Cardiology Section in that hospital; and also, he is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Valencia, Spain. His research interests include the evaluation of pediatric patients using non-invasive image techniques.

Jose Ignacio Priego Quesada

Jose Ignacio Priego Quesada is Associate Professor at the Physical Education and Sports Department of the University of Valencia and researcher of the Group in Sport Biomechanics (GIBD). He holds a PhD in Physiology. His research interests is focused on non-lesive medical image techniques applied to Medicine and Sports.

Rosa María Cibrián Ortiz De Anda

Rosa María Cibrián Ortiz de Anda is Professor in the Department of Physiology and director of the Master’s Degree in Medical Physics of the University of Valencia, Spain. She holds a PhD in physics. Her current research is focused on non-lesive medical image techniques such as structured light, infrared thermography and digital speckle procedures.

Rolando de Jesús González Peña

Rolando de Jesús González Peña is Associate Professor in the Department of at the University of Valencia. His current research is focused on image techniques such as digital speckle procedures to assess metabolic activity in cells.

Mª Fe Mínguez Rey

Mª Fe Mínguez Rey is a specialist in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain, and she is currently Head of the Pediatric Orthopedics unit in that hospital. Her research interests include the evaluation of patients using non-invasive image techniques such as structured light and infrared thermography.

Laura Pino Almero

Laura Pino Almero is a specialist in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain, and is currently Associate Doctor of the Pediatric Orthopedics Unit in that hospital.  She has contributed to the recollection of data from diabetic patients and its clinical analysis.

Rosario Salvador Palmer

Rosario Salvador Palmer is Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology, director of the Master’s Degree in Physiology and Coordinator of the Doctoral Programme in Physiology of the University of Valencia, Spain. She holds a PhD in physics. Her current research is focused on non-lesive medical image techniques applied to Medicine and Sports.