Clinical Retrospective Analysis of Cold and Heat Diagnosis of Traditional Chinese Medicine by Application of Infrared Thermal Imaging Technology

Abstract

Objective: Exploring the application of infrared thermal imaging technology in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis of cold and heat by comparing the cold and heat of TCM clinical dialectics with the cold and heat objectively measured by infrared thermal imaging technology. Methods: First, there were 77 patients from the Prevention and Treatment Center of Guangdong Hospital of TCM selected to analyze their clinical information retrospectively. Then, transforming the temperature index measured by infrared thermal imaging technology into the cold and heat deviation index, which can reflect the cold and heat of traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, a Correlation analysis was made between patients' cold and heat deviation index, and clinical symptoms, the type of cold and heat syndrome diagnosed by doctors. Results: The cold and heat deviation index of the outer, upper outer, and lower outer parts of the patients was significantly lower than that of the inner, upper inner, and lower inner parts of the patients and the difference in the mean values of the three groups was 0.06, 0.07 and 0.03, respectively. In all parts of the subjects, the coincidence rate of clinical dialectics of cold and cold and heat deviation index less than 0 (belonging to cold) was 70.17%. In patients with fatigue symptoms, the cold and heat deviation index of the lower inner part, the upper inner part, and the inner part was significantly higher than that of the lower outer part, the upper outer part, and the outer part. Conclusions: The pattern of human torso region division combined with the cold and heat deviation index can be used to reflect the quantitative understanding of cold and heat in the TCM clinic. Quantifying the variation of cold and heat according to the trend of torso regional temperature deviation can explain the pathogenesis of some elementary symptoms closely related to cold and heat. As a quantitative index of TCM cold and heat, the offset index can be proof for visualization, objectification, and quantification, combined with doctors' judgment, which can an effective auxiliary diagnostic means of TCM to a certain extent.