© edp srl, 2004 gastroenterology

MEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

© EDP Srl, 2004http://www.edpsrl.com

GASTROENTEROLOGYGASTROENTEROLOGY



GastroenterologyGastroenterology

The infrared thermography is widely used in gastroenterology. Using this method we can make diagnosis and differential diagnosis of a lot of diseases, including urgent surgical ones, and also perform an objective follow-up control during the treatment.

The application of infrared thermography in children’s and neonatal practice is particularly effective and important, because it’s fast, reliable, non-contact and absolutely safe for patient and doctor. That’s why infrared thermography is a unique method for the screening of many diseases.



In the normal condition, in thermograms the abdomen has a plain isothermic symmetric picture, in most cases the umbilicus appears as a small hot point.

Normal ThermogramNormal Thermogram

Abdomen.Abdomen. Right side.


The inflammation of spastic condition of the distal part of the esophagus and the cardiac part of the stomach manifest itself in thermograms as a warm area on the upper abdomen, often along both the hypochondrial areas.


Diseases of EsophagusDiseases of Esophagus

Gastritis with reflux-esophagitis Esophagitis. Esophagitis.


On the contrary, in the case of solaritis (solaralgia) these areas appear cold, because the nature of this disease is not inflammatory, but spastic. Usually cold areas are located on the midline and along the left hypochondrial area.


SolaritisSolaritis

Solaritis. Solaritis. Solaritis.


In the case of gastritis with preserved secretion, in thermograms an hyperthermic area appears above the stomach. Shape and temperature values of this area are individual, but very good correlated with the clinical manifestations of the disease.


GastritisGastritis

Gastritis in a 8 months baby. The hyperthermic area is quite similar to the shape of the stomach.

Non-homogenous hyperthermia of the front abdominal wall.

Hyperthermia along the midline – typical case for children.


On the contrary, in the case of gastritis with low secretion there is a cold area above the stomach.


GastritisGastritis

Local hypothermia on the upper abdomen.

Local hypothermia on the upper abdomen.

Non-homogenous hypothermia of the front abdominal wall.


The ulcer of stomach and duodenum appears as a non-homogenous hyperthermia above the stomach with a temperature gradient of 1,5-3°C. The temperature gradient good correlates with the severity of the disease and can be used as an objective indicator during the treatment.


Ulcer of Stomach and DuodenumUlcer of Stomach and Duodenum

Ulcer of the body of the stomach. Pyloric ulcer. Duodenal ulcer



CholecystitisCholecystitis

Cholecystitis.Cholecystitis.

The typical thermovisual manifestation of the cholecystitis is a hot area above the gallbladder. The temperature gradient very good correlates with the severity of the disease and can vary from 0,8-1,5°C in moderate cases up to 3°C in urgent conditions.

Cholecystitis.



Biliary Dyskinesia Biliary Dyskinesia

In thermograms we can distinguish spastic and hypotonic conditions of the biliary system. The specific symptom of the spastic type of biliary dyskinesia is the hyperthermia of the umbilicus. In the hypotonic type coldness appears on the left hypochondrial area.

Spastic dyskinesia of the biliary ducts.

Spastic dyskinesia of the biliary ducts.

Hypotonic dyskinesia of the biliary ducts.



HepatitisHepatitis

The thermovisual sign of hepatitis is the hyperthermia above the liver. A very important fact is that this symptom appears several days before the first clinical manifestations of hepatitis, such as, for example, the jaundice. That’s why thermography may be applied for an early diagnostics of viral hepatitis.

Hyperthermia above the liver.Hyperthermia above the liver. Hyperthermia above the liver.



Liver CirrhosisLiver Cirrhosis

In the case of liver cirrhosis, the hyperthermia above the liver becomes rough, non-homogenous. Another important symptom of a decreased function of the liver is the hyperthermia on the palmar side of the hypothenar.

Biliary cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol cirrhosis of the liver, ascites.

Hyperthermia of the hypothenar in liver cirrhosis.



PancreatitisPancreatitis

In the case of acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, thermograms show a non-homogenous, spotted hyperthermia on the upper part of the front abdomen wall.

Acute pancreatitis.Acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis.



PancreatitisPancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis, as well as the decrease of the functional activity of the pancreas appear as non-homogenous cold areas above the whole gland or the left part of it. This test may be helpful to detect the high risk of formation of diabetes mellitus.

Chronic pancreatitis.Chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis. Hypothermic area above the left part of the pancreas.



AppendicitisAppendicitis

Acute appendicitis manifests itself as a hot area above the location of the appendix. This is a very typical symptom, and infrared thermography is very successfully used in pediatrics.

Acute appendicitis.Acute appendicitis. Acute appendicitis, accompanied with cholecystitis and spastic biliary dyskinesia.



Intestinal DysbacteriosisIntestinal Dysbacteriosis

The most common thermographic symptoms in intestinal dysbacteriosis are some cold points next to and down the umbilicus.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis.Intestinal dysbacteriosis. Intestinal dysbacteriosis.



ColitisColitis

In the case of chronic colitis, the cold area on the lower abdomen is larger and is located around the umbilicus.

Colitis.Colitis. Colitis.



Ulcerative Colitis and PolyposisUlcerative Colitis and Polyposis

In these diseases, the thermovisual picture of the abdomen is similar: there are several hot points above the large intestine.

Ulcerative colitis.Ulcerative colitis. Diffuse polyposis of the large intestine.



Dysfunction of Ileocecal ValveDysfunction of Ileocecal Valve

Dysfunction of ileocecal valve is a common disease, but very difficult to diagnose. The specific thermographic symptom of this disease is a cold area to the right of the umbilicus, above the location of the ileocecal valve. Thermography can be used both for diagnostics and control during the treatment.

Dysfunction of ileocecal valve.Dysfunction of ileocecal valve. The same patient after the course of acupuncture.

© edp srl, 2004 gastroenterology

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ulcer of stomach

gastroenterology slide

gastritis gastritis

duodenal ulcer slide

case of gastritis

hot area

hyperthermic area