Thermal Imaging in Diagnostics of Chronic Ulcers and in Monitoring Healing of Chronic Ulcers

4A: Patients with chronic ulcer i.e. venous, arterial or mixed ulcers or atypical (vasculitic or pyoderma gangraenosum) ulcers needing tertiary care referred to the Wound Center of Tampere University Hospital are invited to this study. Aim is to recruit about 20 patients of each group of ulcers. Patients are treated according to standard treatment practices. The temperature of the lower limbs and ulcer area is measured during visits in a standardized measuring environment from both limbs using the Thermidas Remote thermal imaging system (ThRemote 1.3.1, Remote SW with FLIR Inc's series T IR cameras, Thermidas Oy), a CE-marked medical device for measuring and monitoring changes in skin surface temperature non-invasively. The temperature of the ulcer area is compared with the temperature of the corresponding skin area of the other limb and the temperature difference (delta) of the areas is determined. The measured temperatures and differences are compared in different ulcer aetiology groups and analyzed whether thermal imaging can be used to distinguish atypical ulcers from vascular ulcers.

4B: Thermal imaging measurements and clinical examinations are repeated to the patients with atypical ulcers during follow-up visits, and the change in the measurement of temperatures with thermal imaging is compared with the clinician's assessment of the ulcer status (size, ulcer's border activity, necrosis, and pain intensity) and its changes during follow-up visits. Monitoring of ulcers will continue until the ulcer has epithelized completely or for up to a year.

Actual sample size calculations cannot be made, because previous studies on thermal imaging in patients with atypical ulcers have not been published. Based on previous studies, it can be assumed, that statistically significant differences will be obtained between the study groups of approximately 20 subjects. This is a pilot study, and if the study gives promising results, further research will be carried out in the future with more extensive data.

Clinical implication: If thermal imaging is useful in assessing the tendency of ulcer healing, it can be used to optimize the treatment of ulcer patient, such as considering the timing immunosuppressive treatment or skin graft surgery.