Specific thermographic changes during Walker 256 carcinoma development

1: Cancer Detect Prev. 2009;32(5-6):431-6. Epub 2009 Feb 20. Links

Specific thermographic changes during Walker 256 carcinoma development:

differential infrared imaging of tumor, inflammation and haematoma.

Poljak-Blazi M, Kolaric D, Jaganjac M, Zarkovic K, Skala K, Zarkovic N.

Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

BACKGROUND: Infrared imaging measures spatial variations in the skin

temperature aiming to determine pathological processes; hence possible use of this

non-invasive analytical method in cancer detection is emerging. 

METHODS: Infrared thermal imaging was used to detect changes in rat skin surface temperature

associated with experimental cancer development (Walker 256 carcinoma),

inflammation (upon s.c. Sephadex injection) and haematoma (provoked by s.c.

blood coagulate injection). Infrared camera with a geometric resolution of 76,800

pixels, spectral range of 8-14 microm and the minimal detectable temperature

resolution of 0.07 degrees C with spatial resolution of 0.48 mm at measuring

distance of 30 cm was used to obtain computerised thermal scans. Genuine

ThermoWEB software developed for remote internet control as open source

software was used. 

RESULTS: The raise of peripheral temperature was observed

after induction of local inflammation or haematoma. Opposite to that, transient

decrease of the skin surface temperature was observed after tumor

transplantation. Progressive growth of tumor was associated with the raise of the

skin surface temperature from the 10th day after tumor inoculation, when the

tumors developed supportive neoangiogenic blood supply, as verified by histology.

CONCLUSION: While the raise of peripheral temperature in advanced tumor was

caused by neoangiogenesis, the reduction in skin surface temperature in an early

period after tumor cell inoculation indicated a decay of transplanted tumor cells

due to the immune response and the lack of blood supply. Thus, infrared thermal

imaging may have considerable value in evaluation of the tumor development and

discrimination of cancer from inflammation and haematoma.

PMID: 19232842 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]