Diagnostic thermography.

Under standard and normalized environmental conditions, the thermal contrasts or patterns that exist on the exposed human skin are determined largely by the heat conducted to the skin locally from underlying organs, or variations in blood flow. These localized temperatures give rise to corresponding variations in the rates at which ir energy is radiated. Instruments are available that are capable of translating these differences in rates to photographic images or thermograms. In the absence of disease or pathology, there exists a normal thermal signature for each human. The presence of pathology grossly alters the thermogram and gives rise to a valuable diagnostic procedure-to a unique method of nondestructive testing or remote sensing.