CEM®ThermoDiagnostics personal thermograph is ideally suitable for self examination of people who do not consider themselves sick, i.e. for early detection of latent diseases that could cause irremediable harm to human’s health and life.

Malignization of nevuses (moles)

Nevuses (moles) require special attention, because under the influence of some factors (increased isolation, constant traumatizing, and others) nevuses can become malignant. Close attention should be paid to a nevus, if new sensations are felt in the nevus area and its appearance changes. Such changes can be expressed in the size increase, color transformation, nevus becomes prominent, its borders become unclear or skin color around the nevus changes. In this case, it is necessary to see a doctor urgently. It is known that malignant neoplasms have higher metabolic level, and therefore higher temperature level, which could be monitored with the help of thermograph or “CEM®ThermoDiagnostics” personal thermograph.

For self examination you can use “Custom diagnostics” setting where you can choose any area for temperature measurement on model’s body. There are examples of point placement on the picture. Nevus should be in the center of temperature measurement area.

Normally, nevus has the same temperature as surrounding tissues or even lower temperature, as it rises a bit above skin level. If the temperature of a nevus is higher than the temperature of surrounding tissues, urgent consultation of dermatologist is recommended.

Thermo-diagnostics of secondary immunodeficiency signs

Anyone at any age can develop secondary immunodeficiency caused by the influence of various negative factors (ecological conditions, diet, way of life, working conditions, different diseases). If you suffer from acute respiratory diseases more than twice a year, most likely, you already have immunodeficiency. In case of secondary thymus-dependant immunodeficiency, skin temperature above upper third of breastbone becomes lower than temperature of surrounding tissues.

In this case, immune correction is necessary, as the risk of getting infectious and oncologic diseases increases. If the temperature above breastbone is lower than temperature of surrounding tissues for 2 ºС, it is necessary to conduct detailed examination for diagnostics of tumors and diabetes. Please, visit a doctor for detailed examination.

Attention! Examination should not be done during acute respiratory diseases and broncho-pulmonary diseases, because inflammatory process in the projection of trachea and bronchial tubes increases IR radiation.

CEM®Thermography program has standard diagnostics called “Thermodiagnostic signs of secondary immunodeficiency”. After going through the necessary steps of this diagnostics you can get conclusion about presence or absence of secondary immunodeficiency signs.

According to the points on the picture, you can draw thermogram or add additional points for more precise picture.

Thermo-diagnostics of angiodystrophy of lower extremities

In normal conditions, there is a certain pattern of temperature distribution in lower extremities, according to which, proximal (located higher) parts of an extremity are always warmer than distal parts (situated lower). It means that the temperature of a thigh is higher than temperature of a shank and temperature of a shank is higher than temperature of a foot. Such distribution of temperature is called “correct proximal and distal temperature gradient”. Its temperature difference on shank-foot section does not exceed 5 ºС.

Arterial insufficiency can be seen from low temperature values in the lower third of shanks, but especially on feet (increase in values of proximal and distal temperature gradient). Venous insufficiency is reflected by high temperature values in lower third of shanks and, especially, in feet (reverse proximal and distal temperature gradient).

Self examination is done in lying or sitting position. Measurements should be firstly done on diseased, and secondly on healthy extremity. Obligatory points for temperature taking:

1^st point is situated on the front side of lower third of a thigh;

2^nd point is situated on the front side of upper third of the thigh;

3^rd point is situated on the front side of lower third of a shank;

4^th point is situated on the front side of feet, on the level of a toe.

Lowering of surface temperature level on foot and lower third of shank in comparison with upper third of shank can be observed in case of microangiopathy, for example diabetic microangiopathy (changes in arterioles, cappilars, and venuls) and obliteral diseases of middle and large size (atherosclerosis and endarteritis) of lower extremities. In this case, temperature difference between the areas is more than 5ºС. If your legs become cold quite often, and you feel pain when walking, you should visit a doctor. You should do it regardless of the results of self examination, especially if you smoke or have pancreatic diabetes.

In about 1/3 of all patients with arterial insufficiency normal temperature values can still be registered in lower extremities. This is conditioned by compensatory mechanisms of the organism. These mechanisms cause the appearance of collateral circulation. In these cases “cold probe” should be administered. It will additionally discover the lowering of blood flow in extremities in about half of so-called “normal” initial thermograms.

“Cold probe” (Volgin E. G., 1982). The easiest way to administer “cold probe” is cooling extremities with water. Big bucket should be filled with water of about 16 ºС temperature. Feet should be placed in water for two to three minutes. To decrease irritavitve effect from cold and for hygienic purposes, it is recommended to cover feet with thin plastic covers. Take temperature with infra-red thermometer in the feet area. Repeated measurements are administered in 10, 20, and 30 minutes after cold exposure.

Gradual warming of extremities will be observed in 10 minutes in healthy people. Extremities’ temperature should reach initial level in 20 to 30 minutes. In case of blood flow disturbance in lower extremities, there is no restoration of temperature even in 30 minutes after cooling.

Venous system of lower extremities is represented by three kinds of vessels:

1. Superficial veins. They carry 10% of blood flowing from lower extremities;
2. Deep veins are situated close to arterial vessels. Deep veins carry up to 90% of blood;
3. Communication veins go through fascia and connect deep vein system with superficial. In norm, in valves of communication veins, blood circulation goes only in one direction: vein blood goes from superficial system into deep system.

Diseases of superficial and deep veins are wide spread pathology and comprises about 30% of all surgeries. About 20% of population suffers from chronic vein insufficiency. More women than man suffer from vein insufficiency in Russia (the ratio is 4:1); in the USA, ratio is 1:1. Disability from chronic vein insufficiency often combines with concomitant vein pathologies (phlebitis, trombphlebitis, lymphostasis, and lymphorrhagia) and comprises 5-7% of all forms of disabilities.

If you have varicose veins on legs, venous edema, and you have unpleasant sensations in legs in the end of the day, we recommend to evaluate shanks’ deep veins functioning. Measurements are conducted in the morning in lying or sitting position.

When all temperature gradients are equal to 0 ºС or feet become warmer than shanks, than vein insufficiency is present. In this case, signs of reversed proximal and distal temperature gradient are present.

Functional probes can be used for specification of intensity of venous insufficiency.

March probe: Walk in one spot for two minutes with a speed of 30 steps per minute. Take repeated measurements. If temperature values on feet and shanks have decreased or did not change after march probe, it means that vein insufficiency is being compensated. If the values have increased, this is an indicator of failure of vein circulation in deep veins of a shank. In this case it is recommended to visit a phlebologist.