© edp srl, 2004 ear, nose and throat diseases

MEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHYMEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

© EDP Srl, 2004http://www.edpsrl.com

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DISEASESDISEASES



Ear, Nose and Throat DiseasesEar, Nose and Throat Diseases

In ENT diseases infrared thermography may be applied for:

- primary diagnostics of acute inflammation processes in the nose and nasal sinuses, throat, larynx;

- dynamic thermographic examinations during the treatment to control the effectiveness of the performing therapy.

Infrared thermography is a very suitable method, because it’s fast, reliable, non-contact and absolutely safe for patient and doctor. Infrared thermography has no limitations and it can be successfully applied in babies, children and pregnant women.



In normal conditions, the face thermogram is symmetrical and the nose is cold (blue-black colors). In most cases checks are cold. Forehead has a symmetrical thermal image.

Front neck area has a symmetrical thermal image, too. In some cases little warm lines along the carotid vessels may be found. Usually in men with a big laryngeal prominence, this part of the neck appears as a cold area.

Normal thermogramNormal thermogram


In the case of rhinitis the nose appears warm. The temperature gradient between the affected area and sides of the nose can be from 0,8-1,2°C (allergic rhinitis) up to 2,5°C (diphtheritic rhinitis).


RhinitisRhinitis

Allergic rhinitis. Nose temperature is equal to forehead temperature.

Acute both sides rhinitis. Chronic rhinitis, acute condition in the right side.



Nasal septum deviationNasal septum deviation

Nasal septum deviation to the right side.

Nasal septum deviation to the right side.

Often chronic inflammation process into the nose is kept by the deviation of the nasal septum. In these cases in thermograms the nose is non-symmetric with a clear deviation.



SinusitisSinusitis

In the case of sinusitis the thermogram shows the hyperthermia above the affected sinuses. The temperature gradient depends on the individual specificity of the patient and stage of inflammation, so it’s possible to perform an objective control during the treatment.

Acute frontitis.Acute right side sinusitis. Acute right side sinusitis, associated with frontitis.



AdenoidsAdenoids

In thermograms adenoids are as a relatively thin warm line across the nose bridge between the inner corners of the eyes. This is a very reliable symptom and may be used in screening examinations of the babies from the age of 6 months on.

Adenoids.Adenoids.



Laryngitis and PharyngitisLaryngitis and Pharyngitis

In the case of laryngitis in thermogram hot points above the larynx may be found. Pharyngitis has a similar thermographic picture, but the hyperthermic area is located a bit further down, and a severe reaction of the local lymphatic nodes takes place.

Acute laryngitis.Acute laryngitis. Acute pharyngitis. Severe inflammatory reaction of the sub-mandibular lymphatic nodes.



OtitisOtitis

In the case of acute otitis, the skin in front of the external auditory meatus becomes very hot. The possibility of infrared thermography to diagnose acute otitis is especially actual in babies.

Left side acute otitis.Right side acute otitis. Left side acute otitis.

© edp srl, 2004 ear, nose and throat diseases

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