Abstract
Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the role of infrared thermal imaging in differential diagnosis of Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH). 180 patients with lumbocrural pain and clinically suspected of having LDH were selected from January 2015 to March 2016 during their hospitalization in Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine.
Methods: 62 of those cases were diagnosed by X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), 70 by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and 48 by both. The signal value of infrared thermal images was estimated by comparing the images of patients with LDH with that of control patients.
Results: In this study, LDH were found in 120 cases by infrared thermal imaging. The infrared thermal images of lumbosacral area of all those 120 cases showed a diamond-shaped asymmetric high temperature zone with deepened color compared with surrounding area. Among the 120 cases, 30 cases showed unchanged temperature of affected leg compared with control group; 48 cases showed decreased temperature of the affected limb; 17 cases showed increased body temperature of the affected limb; 25 cases showed both decreased and increased temperatures found in different areas of the affected limb.
Discussion: Analyses of the combined data of infrared thermal images, clinical histories and physical examinations resulted in 60 cases to be more accurately diagnosed with different conditions which share the same symptom with LDH (28 cases of myofascial syndrome, 11 cases of coxitis, 16 cases of joint osteoarthritis, 3 cases of femoral head necrosis, and 2 cases of varicose veins).
Conclusion: Compared with the conventional imaging examination, such as CT and MRI, infrared thermal imaging showed a higher diagnostic value for LDH.
Keywords: Lumbar disc herniation, infrared thermal imaging, lumbocrural pain, diagnosis, MRI, osteoarthritis.
Graphical Abstract
19
2
1
Related Journals
Related eBooks
Related Articles
-
Venous Thromboembolism Risk and Adequacy of Prophylaxis in High Risk Pregnancy in the Arabian Gulf
Current Vascular Pharmacology An Evidence-Based Review of Off-Label Uses of Polidocanol
Current Clinical Pharmacology A Review of Current Treatment Strategies for Varicose Veins
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Sulodexide Down-Regulates the Release of Cytokines, Chemokines, and Leukocyte Colony Stimulating Factors from Human Macrophages: Role of Glycosaminoglycans in Inflammatory Pathways of Chronic Venous Disease
Current Vascular Pharmacology Pharmacological Agents in the Treatment of Venous Disease: An Update of the Available Evidence
Current Vascular Pharmacology Glycosaminoglycan Sulodexide Inhibition of MMP-9 Gelatinase Secretion and Activity: Possible Pharmacological Role Against Collagen Degradation in Vascular Chronic Diseases
Current Vascular Pharmacology Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF)*: A Review of its Pharmacological Effects, Therapeutic Efficacy and Benefits in the Management of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Current Vascular Pharmacology Medical Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Vascular Disease Prevention The Significance of Pain in Chronic Venous Disease and its Medical Treatment
Current Vascular Pharmacology Matrix Metalloproteinases in Venous Tissue Remodeling and Varicose Vein Formation
Current Vascular Pharmacology Effect of Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction Therapy on Endothelin-1 and TNF-α Levels in Relation to Antioxidant Enzyme Balance in the Peripheral Blood of Women with Varicose Veins
Current Vascular Pharmacology Matrix Metalloproteinases in Vascular Disease - A Potential Therapeutic Target?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Matrix Metalloproteinases as Potential Targets in the Venous Dilation Associated with Varicose Veins
Current Drug Targets