M S Awerbuch1. 1. Pain Management Unit, Memorial Medical Centre, North Adelaide, SA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the currently perceived status of thermography in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders. DATA SOURCES: Medical and legal journals published from 1956 onwards; report of the United States Office of Health Technology Assessment and personal communication with the author of that report. STUDY SELECTION: Confined to application of thermography to musculoskeletal and neurological medicine. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Weighted towards prospective and controlled studies. CONCLUSION: Little evidence exists of any application of thermography in which it is unequivocally superior to conventional diagnostic imaging methods.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the currently perceived status of thermography in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders. DATA SOURCES: Medical and legal journals published from 1956 onwards; report of the United States Office of Health Technology Assessment and personal communication with the author of that report. STUDY SELECTION: Confined to application of thermography to musculoskeletal and neurological medicine. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Weighted towards prospective and controlled studies. CONCLUSION: Little evidence exists of any application of thermography in which it is unequivocally superior to conventional diagnostic imaging methods.