Speakers
Description
Here we present a case study where it is used as a methodology for the evaluation of biomedical infrared imaging (BM-IRIm), as an aiding tool for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). Considering that, DFS implies a group of anatomical and functional comorbidities expressed at the feet of diabetic people. Its principal characteristic parameters are: (1) the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and (2) peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Both are present in conditions of mixed peripheral damage, being (2) the most common case. The methodology presented here allows us to discern when peripheral damage is predominantly neuropathic or not. This enables guidelines for dealing with patients in a more personalized manner, and thus to forecast better options for treatment; additional benefits are the relatively lower cost and its potential to be a test performed as part of the clinical diagnosis. The case study relates to a couple of female patients with long-standing DM2 (more than five years) with no apparent expressions of DPN. The task is to extract information about their metabolic behavior governed by functional patterns associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The results demonstrated a rather effective mismatch diagnostic concordance between clinical examinations and quantitative data obtained from analyzing the natural limbs asymmetry. The quantitative performance is expressed through a so-called asymmetrical thermal response index (ATR) and through the statistical thermal response index (TRI). The results are placed in contrast with two random controls exhibiting similar age, gender and general phenotype. Out of the current findings, one can raise the expectation of combining those indices to work out as effective and adaptable tools for detecting subtle information, otherwise hidden among radiometric data; such information is vital in facilitating timely interventions to prevent advanced stages of the diabetic foot disease, such as harmful ulcers; and if so, then ameliorate, and even eliminate, the risk of amputations.
