The Procedure of Thermal Imaging Control of the Temperature Fields on the Skin During Cryoablation

Introduction. In the treatment of malignant skin diseases using the cryosurgical method, the radicality of cryoablation is primarily used, which ensures the patient’s recovery and reduces the likelihood of disease recurrence. One of the non-invasive remote methods of intraoperative control of the temperature field is infrared thermography, which records the dynamics of thermal fields that reflect the distribution and activity of internal processes in tissues. The work aims to develop a thermal imaging technique for monitoring the dynamics of thermal fields on the skin during short-term low-temperature exposure with a quasi-point cryoapplicator. Materials and methods. The technique is based on remote measurement of the intensity of temperature fields on the surface of the skin, finding abnormal areas of these fields and quantitative assessment of the parameters of abnormal areas and their dynamics. Cryodestruction of the skin and underlying tissues was carried out with a quasi-point cryoapplicator cooled by liquid nitrogen, and thermal imaging examination was carried out with an original infrared camera, specially designed for studies of the dynamics of low-temperature thermal fields. Results and discussion. Based on the results of thermal imaging studies, a method of monitoring the dynamics of temperature fields on the skin during low-temperature exposure with a quasi-point cryoapplicator has been developed. The work describes the requirements for thermal imaging inspection conditions, provides the necessary technical parameters of the equipment, and also presents a detailed step-by-step description of the measurements and quantitative analysis of the obtained results. Conclusions. The methodology can become the basis for developing an appropriate “clinical protocol”, the implementation of which in clinical practice will contribute to the improvement of the quality of treatment of patients by increasing the accuracy of diagnosis, prevention of complications and relapses.