Infra-red thermal imaging of the inner canthus : correlates with the temperature of the injured human brain

Introduction: Infra-red (IR) thermometry is a safe and valid method to determine internal and surface temperature in human subjects. Under conditions of brain damage (head injury or stroke) knowledge of changes in the temperature of intracranial tissue is justified because of the vulnerability of neurons to accelerated damage at temperatures at the upper end of the febrile range.

Aim: To determine the temperature at the inner canthus (IC) of the eye as a potential surrogate for brain temperature.

Methods: Invasive monitoring of deep brain structures, lateral ventricle and deep white matter. IR temperature readings obtained at right and left IC.

Results: Strong correlations were evident between R and L IC and brain. Close, as well as poor, agreement between sites was shown in some patients and at some times. For right hemispheric lesions four had a better correlation between TbrV and TRIC when compared to TLIC. When the correlation between TbrV and TLIC was better compared to TbrV and TRIC, four had a predominant right hemispheric lesion.

Conclusions: Improved techniques for IR thermal imaging accuracy at the bedside has the potential to improve temperature measurement agreement. The predominant lesion side may have a bearing on maximum ipsilateral IC temperature Further studies are ongoing in this pilot study population.