Journal article
Thermal Infrared Camera Imaging to Aid Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Genitalia Management
Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.), Vol.175, pp.202-208
05/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2022.12.056.
PMID: 36828267
Abstract
To determine if imaging with a thermal infrared camera might aid clinicians with diagnosis of equivocal necrotizing soft tissue infections of the genitalia (NSTIG) cases and help surgeons when determining appropriate surgical resection margins.
For twelve months at a single tertiary academic hospital, sequential patients already undergoing exploration for acute scrotum had preoperative photography with an infrared camera (FLIR C5). We compared infrared and standard preoperative photography with operative reports and postoperative photography to investigate if infrared photography corresponded with operative findings in severe scrotal infections - specifically the viability of the skin and the ultimate surgical resection margins.
A total of 16 patients were included. The pre-operative infrared photos directly correlated with resection margins in 13 of 16 (81%) patients. Notably, areas with a relatively lower (cooler) infrared intensity corresponded well to both visibly necrotic tissue when discrete and areas with large underlying fluid collections. Diffuse warm signal relative to surrounding skin correlated with cellulitis and viable skin.
In this observational study, infrared photography corresponded well with physical exam and operative findings. There may be a role for augmented temperature photography in the diagnosis and triage of scrotal infections. More research with standardized temperature gating of infrared signal and controls with normal or nonacute scrotums are needed to elucidate the clinical utility for infrared photograph.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Thermal Infrared Camera Imaging to Aid Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Genitalia Management
- Creators
- Charles H Schlaepfer - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of UrologyKevin J Flynn - University of IowaPhilip M PolgreenBradley A Erickson - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Urology. Electronic address: brad-erickson@uiowa.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.), Vol.175, pp.202-208
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.urology.2022.12.056.
- PMID
- 36828267
- NLM abbreviation
- Urology
- eISSN
- 1527-9995
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/22/2023
- Date published
- 05/2023
- Academic Unit
- Infectious Diseases; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Urology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984368282702771
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