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. 2025 May;40(4):223-227.
doi: 10.1177/02683555241301194. Epub 2024 Nov 12.

Thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool for superficial venous insufficiency - a systematic review

Marwah Salih  1 , Sarah Salih  1 , Benedict R H Turner  1 , Sarah Onida  1 , Alun H Davies  1
Affiliations

Thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool for superficial venous insufficiency - a systematic review

Marwah Salih et al. Phlebology. 2025 May.

Abstract

ObjectivesEvaluation of the literature assessing the use of thermography, a non-invasive imaging modality that detects pathological temperature variation, in recognising superficial venous insufficiency (SVI).MethodsA systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were screened by two individuals and data was subsequently extracted. Methodological quality was assessed with Cochrane's risk of bias tool.ResultsFour studies comprising 363 patients were included. Three studies identified increased temperature uptake in veins with incompetent valves on venous duplex (p < .05). One study reported sensitivity and specificity of thermal imaging in SVI as 98.30% (95% CI, 95.2%-99.4%) and 100% (95% CI 85.7%-100%) respectively.ConclusionThermal imaging could act as a screening tool in SVI. This review highlights a lack of high-quality prospective studies evaluating the role of thermal imaging as a diagnostic tool that could expedite the assessment of patients.

Keywords: Chronic venous disease; duplex ultrasound; vascular surgery; venous disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow diagram demonstrating the total number of papers included.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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