Normal thermal patterns in cornea and periorbital skin.

Abstract

WHILST the absolute value of a surface temperature may have intrinsic value as a measure- ment, it is of limited application since so many factors are involved in its formation. These include local blood supply, endogenous metabolism, environmental temperature, and the period of equilibration before measurement is made. In practice it is impossible to separate their various effects with any degree of certainty so that any interpretation given to an isolated surface temperature reading is of doubtful value. This contrasts with the measurement of a relatively constant temperature such as that of the body core, since here deviations from normality can be readily detected. However, in man, as surface anatomical symmetry exists about a median plane the temperature of cornea or skin on one side of this plane can be compared with that of a contralateral area and any deviation from normality detected. This pre-supposes that the normal temperature difference has been established and such an assumption is implicit in the literature on surface temperature measurement (e.g.