Clinical Applications, Legal Considerations and Implementation Challenges of Smartphone-Based Thermography: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Medical thermography is a non-invasive technique that allows the measurement of the temperature of the human body surface, exploiting the heat emitted by the body through the skin in the form of infrared electromagnetic radiation. Recently, smartphone-based thermography (ST) has drawn considerable attention. This scoping review (SR) aims to describe its current applications and reliability based on currently available research findings, also taking into account the medico-legal implications linked to its use. A search of the sources was conducted on multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Lilacs, Google Scholar). Based on a set of eligibility criteria, all articles deemed useful were included in the SR. Collected data, processed with descriptive statistics, are then discussed. From the initial 241 results, after duplicate removal and full-text reading based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 20 articles were classified according to the main characteristics and indications and outcomes are highlighted based on clinical evidence. The most frequently documented fields of ST are wound care management and vascular surgery. Other disciplines are less explored (dentistry, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, orthopedics, etc.). Practicality, operational simplicity and affordability of mobile thermographic devices are the chief strengths of this technology. Comparative studies with traditional thermal imaging methods are poor in terms of the number of patients analyzed but this technology showed high sensitivity and accuracy in the large number of patients enrolled in observational studies, encouraging the development of further operational protocols in all medical specialties. Gaining a deeper understanding of such techniques will also help settle the medico-legal issues which may arise from the clinical implementation of ST, thus appraising its reliability and safety from that perspective as well.

Keywords: body temperature; diagnosis; diagnostic imaging; health evaluation; healthcare; legal issues; litigation; medical devices; smartphone; thermography.

Figure 1

Review process in compliance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines.