Chafetz N, Wexler C E, Kaiser J A
Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1988 Aug;13(8):922-5. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198808000-00010.
Fifteen asymptomatic volunteers and 19 patients with current CT (GE 8800 CT/T) scans demonstrating either thecal sac contour distortion or nerve root displacement from disc rupture or spinal stenosis of the L4-L5 or L5-S1 levels judged to be at least moderate in severity underwent lumbar thermography. All patients were studied with an infrared telethermographic unit (AGA model 720M) employing the technical standards recommended by the Academy of Neuromuscular Thermography. The thermographic exams were interpreted independently and in a blind fashion by two radiologists. Of the 15 exams of asymptomatic patients, six were interpreted as positive and consistent with nerve fiber irritation. Of the 19 exams of patients with demonstrated CT abnormalities, all had positive thermograms for nerve fiber irritation (specificity 60%, sensitivity 100%). It is concluded that lumbar thermography is a sensitive examination for detecting those patients who will demonstrate lumbar spinal CT abnormalities and should play an important role in the diagnostic screening of low-back pain syndrome patients.
15名无症状志愿者和19名患有腰椎间盘突出症或腰椎管狭窄症（L4 - L5或L5 - S1节段，严重程度至少为中度）的患者接受了腰椎热成像检查，这些患者当前的CT（GE 8800 CT/T）扫描显示有硬脊膜囊轮廓变形或神经根移位。所有患者均使用红外远距热成像仪（AGA 720M型）进行研究，该仪器采用了神经肌肉热成像学会推荐的技术标准。热成像检查由两名放射科医生独立且盲法解读。在15名无症状患者的检查中，有6例被解读为阳性，与神经纤维刺激相符。在19名CT显示有异常的患者检查中，所有患者的热成像图均显示神经纤维刺激阳性（特异性60%，敏感性100%）。结论是，腰椎热成像对于检测那些腰椎CT会显示异常的患者是一项敏感的检查，并且在腰痛综合征患者的诊断筛查中应发挥重要作用。
