title: Evaluation of mammary cancer in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced Wister rats by asymmetrical temperature distribution analysis using thermography: a comparison with serum CEA levels and histopathology.
abstract: Animal surface temperature profile captured using infrared camera is helpful for the assessment of physiological responses associated with the regulation of body temperature. Diagnosing breast cancer in early stage itself has a greater effect on the prognosis. In this work, asymmetrical temperature distribution analysis of chemical carcinogen 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene-induced in the lower right flank region of Wistar rats (n = 6) was carried out to test the potential of thermography in diagnosing mammary cancer and tumor growth over a period of nine weeks in comparison with histopathology results as standard. Temperature difference between the tumor induced lower right and left side of flank region was significant (with P value <0.001), whereas in the abdomen and shoulder there was no significant difference in temperature between right and left sides. Percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference in the tumor induced lower flank region was 0.5 to 2%, whereas in the other regions it was <0.5%. Green pixel distribution in RGB color histogram was asymmetrical in the tumor induced lower flank region. Temperature reduction was observed in the tumor induced region after the seventh day of carcinogen induction. Asymmetrical thermogram analysis is the best method of diagnosing mammary cancer and for studying tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM University, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu, Kattankulathur 603203, India. kirubhaangeline@gmail.com
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Angeline Kirubha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anburajan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akila
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharath
authors.forename: Baldev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raj
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene