[The basis of tumor verification using thermography].

The gradient between interior body temperature and external temperature was gradually measured in young pigs, since their skin resembles the properties of human skin. The interior temperature appeared to extend to 2.5 cm under the surface of skin. Then it drops, at first slowly and from 1 cm under the surface rapidly. Tumors or inflammations can only warm the skin directly when their site is 1 cm or less under the skin. Tumors which lie deeper may warm the skin via reflex zones. Warming by heat conduction is prevented by convection. Heating plates inserted 1.8 cm and 2 cm under the skin surface and heated 5 degrees beyond surrounding temperature do not warm the skin surface. This can be demonstrated by thermography. The importance of these results for thermographic tumor diagnosis is discussed.