Medical Thermography

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a non-invasive clinical imaging procedure for detecting & monitoring a number of diseases & physical injuries by showing thermal abnormalities present in the body.

Medical DITI enables the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared scanning device is used to convert infrared radiation emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses that are visualized in color on a monitor. This visual image graphically maps the body temperature and is referred to as a thermogram. The spectrum of colors indicates an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared radiation being emitted from the body surface. Since there is a high degree of thermal symmetry in the normal body, subtle abnormal temperature asymmetries can be easily identified.

Skin blood flow is under the control of the sympathetic nervous system. In normal, healthy people, there is a symmetrical dermal pattern which is consistent and reproducible for any individual. This is recorded in precise detail by our medical grade FDA registered screening equipment designed and manufactured specifically for clinical application with a temperature sensitivity of 0.01°C.

The neuro-thermography application of DITI measures the somatic component of the sympathetic nervous system by assessing dermal blood flow. The sympathetic nervous system is stimulated at the same anatomical location as its sensory counterpart and produces a somato sympathetic response. The somato sympathetic response appears on DITI as a localized area of altered temperature with specific features for each anatomical lesion.

The mean temperature differential in peripheral nerve injury is 1.5°C. In sympathetic dysfunctions (RSD / SMP / CRPS) temperature differentials ranging from 1° C to 10° C depending on severity are not uncommon. Rheumatologic processes generally appear as “hot areas” with increased temperature patterns. The pathology is generally an inflammatory process, i.e. synovitis of joints and tendon sheaths, epicondylitis, capsular and muscle injuries, etc. Vascular conditions are readily demonstrated by DITI including Raynauds, Vasculitis, Limb Ischemia, DVT, etc. Both hot and cold responses may co exist if the pain associated with an inflammatory focus excites an increase in sympathetic activity.

Results obtained with medical DITI systems are totally objective and show excellent correlation with other diagnostic tests. All scans are performed by Clinically Certified Thermographers, and all results and images are interpreted and reported by Board Certified MD Thermologists.