Infrared thermography of abdominal wall in acute appendicitis: Proof of concept study

Abstract

ObjectiveDiagnosis of acute appendicitis may be challenging. The current imaging methods have modest sensitivities and specificities. This study aimed to evaluate skin infrared thermal (IRT) imaging as a diagnostic adjunct for acute appendicitis in adults. MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study in 51 patients with appendicitis, 20.with abdominal pain (no appendicitis) and 51 healthy controls. Temperature of the skin overlying abdominal lower quadrants, right (RLQ) and left (LLQ), were recorded and compared between groups. Using a machine learning algorithm, we identified which parameters discriminated between groups and compared the diagnostic accuracy of IRT to the final diagnosis. ResultsRLQ temperature >34 °C discriminate healthy controls and patients with acute abdomen; a delta >0.35 °C in RLQ vs LLQ discriminate patients with and without appendicitis. Compared to the ultrasound-based diagnosis, IRT has a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 56% to diagnose appendicitis. ConclusionsIRT could be an adjunct tool in the diagnosis of appendicitis in settings with limited resources. Further research is needed to confirm and translate our results into clinical practice.