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. 2015 Oct-Dec;13(4):518-24.
doi: 10.1590/S1679-45082015AO3392.

Reference breast temperature: proposal of an equation

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Gladis Aparecida Galindo Reisemberger de Souza  1 , Marcos Leal Brioschi  1 , José Viriato Coelho Vargas  1 , Keli Cristiane Correia Morais  1 , Carlos Dalmaso Neto  2 , Eduardo Borba Neves  3
Affiliations

Reference breast temperature: proposal of an equation

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Gladis Aparecida Galindo Reisemberger de Souza et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2015 Oct-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To develop an equation to estimate the breast reference temperature according to the variation of room and core body temperatures.

Methods: Four asymptomatic women were evaluated for three consecutive menstrual cycles. Using thermography, the temperature of breasts and eyes was measured as indirect reference of core body and room temperatures. To analyze the thermal behavior of the breasts during the cycle, the core body and room temperatures were normalized by means of a mathematical equation.

Results: We performed 180 observations and the core temperature had the highest correlation with the breast temperature, followed by room temperature. The proposed prediction model could explain 45.3% of the breast temperature variation, with variable room temperature variable; it can be accepted as a way to estimate the reference breast temperature at different room temperatures.

Conclusion: The average breast temperature in healthy women had a direct relation with the core and room temperature and can be estimated mathematically. It is suggested that an equation could be used in clinical practice to estimate the normal breast reference temperature in young women, regardless of the day of the cycle, therefore assisting in evaluation of anatomical studies.

Objetivo: Desenvolver uma equação de estimativa da temperatura de referência das mamas, de acordo com a variação das temperaturas ambiente e central.

Métodos: Foram avaliadas quatro mulheres assintomáticas durante três ciclos menstruais consecutivos. Mensuraram-se, por termografia, as temperaturas das mamas e ocular, como referência indireta das temperaturas central e ambiente. Para análise do comportamento térmico durante o ciclo as temperaturas das mamas, foram normalizadas com a temperatura central e ambiente por meio de uma equação matemática.

Resultados: Foram realizadas 180 observações, sendo que a temperatura central apresentou a maior correlação com a temperatura das mamas, seguida da temperatura ambiente. O modelo de predição proposto conseguiu explicar 45,3% da variação da temperatura das mamas com temperatura ambiente variável podendo ser aceito como uma forma de estimar a temperatura de referência das mesmas em diferentes temperaturas ambientais.

Conclusão: A temperatura média das mamas em mulheres saudáveis teve relação direta com a temperatura central e ambiente, e pôde ser estimada matematicamente. Sugere-se que uma equação poderia ser utilizada para estimativa da temperatura de referência da mama normal em mulheres, independente do dia do ciclo e, portanto, auxiliar na avaliação de estudos anatômicos.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: none.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Thermal imaging of the breasts of one of the volunteers on day 9 of the menstrual cycle. Anterior view delimitating the areas of interest to measure the maximum, minimum and average temperatures, and the thermal gradient between them
Figure 2
Figure 2. Eye image for measurement of the maximum eye temperature and indirect measurement of the core body temperature by thermography
Figure 3
Figure 3. Variability of room and core body temperatures during the menstrual cycle. The core body temperature varied 4°C and the room temperature, 12.1ºC
Figure 4
Figure 4. Correlation between the average temperature of the right and left breasts (r=0.927; p<0.001)
Figure 5
Figure 5. Correlation of average breast temperature with maximum eye temperature (core MET) and room temperature at the time of acquisition
Figura 1
Figura 1. Termografia das mamas de uma das voluntárias, no 9o dia do ciclo menstrual, demonstrando posicionamento de incidência anterior, com delimitação das áreas de interesse para medida das temperaturas máxima, mínima e média, bem como gradiente térmico entre elas
Figura 2
Figura 2. Imagem ocular para obtenção da temperatura máxima da região ocular e mensuração indireta da temperatura central por termografia
Figura 3
Figura 3. Variabilidade das temperaturas central e ambiente durante ciclo menstrual. A temperatura central variou 4ºC e a ambiente 12,1ºC
Figura 4
Figura 4. Correlação entre a temperatura média das mamas direita e esquerda (r=0,927; p<0,001)
Figura 5
Figura 5. Correlação entre temperatura média das mamas com temperatura ocular máxima (TMO central) e temperatura ambiente no momento da aquisição
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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