[Application and prospects of infrared thermography in rheumatic diseases]

Abstract

Infrared thermography is an advanced technology that utilizes infrared detectors to sense the infrared thermal radiation emitted from the human body' s surface, converting it into electrical signals. These signals are then processed by computers to generate planar temperature color images, providing an intuitive display of the body surface temperature distribution. Rheumatic diseases, as prevalent conditions that significantly impact the quality of life of millions of people worldwide, pose significant challenges in diagnosis and assessment. Traditional diagnostic and evaluation methods, while possessing certain clinical value, exhibit non-negligible limitations. With the advancements and increasing popularity of infrared thermography technology, combined with the progress in medical image recognition and artificial intelligence algorithms, this technology has demonstrated increasingly prominent advantages in the field of rheumatology. By employing this non-invasive and highly efficient technique for analyzing superficial tissue thermal radiation distribution, early and precise diagnosis of rheumatic diseases, as well as dynamic monitoring of disease progression, becomes feasible. This technological advancement enhances the accuracy and efficiency of rheumatic disease diagnosis, thereby alleviating the burden on healthcare systems and optimizing the allocation of medical resources. Furthermore, infrared thermography introduces new vitality into the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of rheumatic diseases. It enables clinicians to detect subtle changes in body surface temperature that may indicate underlying inflammatory or metabolic processes associated with rheumatic conditions. This capability facilitates early intervention and personalized treatment strategies, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. The integration of infrared thermography with advanced image processing algorithms and artificial intelligence further amplifies its potential, enabling automated analysis and interpretation of thermal images, thus reducing the dependence on manual interpretation and enhancing the reproducibility and reliability of diagnostic results. In conclusion, infrared thermography represents as a promising tool in the management of rheumatic diseases, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and efficient means for early diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic evaluation of diseases. As technology continues to evolve, the application of infrared thermography is expected to advance further in rheumatic diseases.

Keywords: Arthritis; Infrared thermographic imaging inspection; Non-invasive inspection; Rheumatic diseases.

图 1

正常手红外热成像表现(图像来自北京医院风湿免疫科) Infrared thermal imaging of normal hand (from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Hospital)

图 2

手关节炎患者红外热成像表现(右腕关节、右第1掌指关节、右第一指间关节温度明显升高，呈白色，图像来自北京医院风湿免疫科) Infrared thermal imaging of arthritis of the hand (the temperature of the right wrist joint, the right metacarpophalangeal-1 joint and the right interphalangeal-1 joint increased significantly, manifested with white, from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Hospital)

图 3

雷诺现象患者手红外热成像表现(双手手指皮温明显减低，呈深蓝色，图像来自北京医院风湿免疫科) Infrared thermal imaging of Raynaud phenomenon patients'hands (the temperature of both hands is reduced significantly, manifested with dark blue, from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Hospital)

图 4

雷诺现象患者足红外热成像表现(双足趾皮温明显减低，呈深蓝色，图像来自北京医院风湿免疫科) Infrared thermal imaging of Raynaud phenomenon patients'foots (the temperature of both foots is reduced significantly, manifested with dark blue, from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Hospital)