TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantification of thermal asymmetry. Part 1
T2 - Normal values and reproducibility
AU - Uematsu, S.
AU - Edwin, D. H.
AU - Jankel, W. R.
AU - Kozikowski, J.
AU - Trattner, M.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - The use of thermography in evaluating nerve injury is based on the presence of temperature asymmetries between the involved area of innervation and the corresponding area on the opposite side of the body. However, interpretation of the thermographic image has been troubled by subjectivity. This paper decribes a computer-calculated method of collecting data that eliminates subjective biases. Comprehensive normative data are presented on the degree of thermal asymmetry in the human body. The degree of thermal asymmetry between opposite sides of the body (ΔT) is very small. For example, the value of ΔT for the forehead (mean ± standard deviation) was 0.18° ± 0.18°C, for the leg it was 0.27° ± 0.2°C, and for the foot it was 0.38° ± 0.31°C. These values were reproducible in both short- and long-term follow-up measurements over a period of 5 years. The ΔT's reported here were obtained from 40 matched regions of the body surface of 90 asymptomatic normal individuals. These values can be used as a standard in assessment of sympathetic nerve function, and the degree of asymmetry is a quantifiable indicator of dysfunction.
AB - The use of thermography in evaluating nerve injury is based on the presence of temperature asymmetries between the involved area of innervation and the corresponding area on the opposite side of the body. However, interpretation of the thermographic image has been troubled by subjectivity. This paper decribes a computer-calculated method of collecting data that eliminates subjective biases. Comprehensive normative data are presented on the degree of thermal asymmetry in the human body. The degree of thermal asymmetry between opposite sides of the body (ΔT) is very small. For example, the value of ΔT for the forehead (mean ± standard deviation) was 0.18° ± 0.18°C, for the leg it was 0.27° ± 0.2°C, and for the foot it was 0.38° ± 0.31°C. These values were reproducible in both short- and long-term follow-up measurements over a period of 5 years. The ΔT's reported here were obtained from 40 matched regions of the body surface of 90 asymptomatic normal individuals. These values can be used as a standard in assessment of sympathetic nerve function, and the degree of asymmetry is a quantifiable indicator of dysfunction.
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U2 - 10.3171/jns.1988.69.4.0552
DO - 10.3171/jns.1988.69.4.0552
M3 - Article
C2 - 3418388
AN - SCOPUS:0023693902
SN - 0022-3085
VL - 69
SP - 552
EP - 555
JO - Journal of neurosurgery
JF - Journal of neurosurgery
IS - 4
ER -