Infrared thermography in the diagnostics of hidden infections – case reports

Two interesting case reports are presented that prove the many advantages of infrared thermography as a new diagnostic tool that can be successfully used in detecting hidden pathological processes. The first case report is about a 40-year-old female patient with alopecia areata – head lesion. The dermatological treatment gave no results, so the patient was sent for focal diagnostics. The infrared thermography showed two sites with hidden infection. The first one was of dental origin – periapical granuloma on the first mandibular left molar; the second site was in the genital area – endometriosis. A root canal retreatment of the molar and a gynecological operation were performed. After elimination of the focal infection, the hairless lesion recovered fully. The second case report is of a 34-year-old healthy male with alopecia areata of the beard and no other complaints. Infrared thermography detected active sinusitis of the ethmoidal left sinus. A microbiology test confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus Aureus and after an antibiotic course the beard recovered fully. These cases clearly illustrate the advantages of infrared thermography as a novel promising, non-invasive and objective diagnostic tool for clarification of difficult-to-diagnose cases. (paper)