Thermology as an assessment Tool

Sympathetic skin response studies such as cold stress infrared imaging provide valuable diagnostic tools for the study of complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS), reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), vasomotor headache and Barre-Lieou. Other established clinical indications include venous and peripheral arterial disorders such as insufficiency or vasospastic disease, rheumatic inflammation, trauma and post operative or fracture pain.

Breast Thermal imaging is a complementary test to other breast imaging studies such as Mammography, MRI, or Ultrasound. Extensive literature exists on the use of infrared imaging as a breast risk health assessment. Estrogen dominance, ductal congestion, lymphatic congestion, and angiogenesis are all breast health risk factors that breast thermal imaging can help to identify. Women with dense breasts, fibrocystic disease, small breasts, or who have a strong family history for breast disease and want to be more proactive in their breast care often consider breast thermography to help accomplish this need.

Thermology in other Practices

Medical Infrared Thermal Imaging also has utility in Veterinary Medicine.

Circulatory compromise and tissue injuries occur in all species. Veterinary use of Infrared Imaging includes evaluation of equine, bovine, ovine, caprine, canine, feline, cetaceans, exotics, and aquatics.

Infrared imaging allows visual extension of the physical exam in natural habitats and point-of-care settings. Infrared imaging can demonstrate evidence of disease or injury by recording circulatory and temperature changes that otherwise might not be known or adequately assessed. Species-specific temperature values are recorded for herd animals and most exotics and can aid in assessments of tissue perfusion, inflammation and fevers.



The AAT has published internationally peer reviewed guidelines on neuro-musculoskeletal, breast, and veterinary thermography.