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. 2021 Jan 26;18(3):1097.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031097.

Thermal Characteristics of Breast Surface Temperature in Healthy Women

Anna Lubkowska  1 , Monika Chudecka  2
Affiliations

Thermal Characteristics of Breast Surface Temperature in Healthy Women

Anna Lubkowska et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Thermography is widely used in the medical field, including in the detection of breast disorders. The aim of the research was to characterize the range of breast surface temperature values, taking into account the entire area of the mammary gland and, independently, the nipple, in healthy women. An additional aim was to assess the symmetry of the breast temperature distribution (using an IR camera) and the correlation of temperatures with the content of adipose tissue. Thermograms were made for the right and left breasts, each time delineating the area of the entire breast and a separate area of the nipple, chest, and abdomen. Analyzing the intergroup differences in temperature of selected body areas (Tmean), it was shown that, in all cases, they were significantly higher in younger women. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between breast and nipple temperatures in relation to the body sides. The highest temperatures within the mammary gland were recorded for the nipple area. The use of the high-resolution digital infrared thermal imaging method in early and screening preventive diagnoses of changes in the mammary gland requires individual interpretation of the results, taking into account the assessment of the physiological pattern of temperature distribution in both breasts.

Keywords: breast; infrared thermography; surface temperatures.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The exemplary thermal image with analyzed areas marked.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The result of the correlation between the values of breast (BR & BL) and nipple (NR & NL) temperatures (Tmean).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The result of the correlation between the values of breast (BR & BL) and chest temperatures (Tmean).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The result of the correlation between the values of breast (BR & BL) and abdomen temperatures (Tmean).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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