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

Table 1

Comparison of mean skin temperature region-wise (flank region, abdomen region, and shoulder region).

Week

Tumor induced site

Nontumor site

Nontumor site

Lower right flank region temperature (°C)—mean ± SD

Lower left flank region temperature (°C)—mean ± SD

Difference in temperature between right flank and left flank region (°C)

Percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference

Right abdomen region temperature (°C) —mean ± SD

Left abdomen region temperature (°C) —mean ± SD

Difference in temperature between right abdomen and left abdomen region (°C)

Percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference

Right shoulder region temperature (°C)—mean ± SD

Left shoulder region temperature (°C)—mean ± SD

Difference in temperature between right shoulder and left shoulder region (°C)

Percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference

Base line (Before induction)

38.98 ± 0.28

39 ± 0.13

0.02

0.05

38.62 ± 0.19

38.72 ± 0.07

0.1

0.26

38.5 ± 0.46

38.64 ± 0.37

0.14

0.36

Immediately after induction

36.62 ± 0.2

36.8 ± 0.24

0.18

0.49

36.52 ± 0.24

36.58 ± 0.39

0.06

0.16

36.46 ± 0.34

36.62 ± 0.29

0.16

0.44

Week 1

36.32 ± 0.6

36.53 ± 0.55**

0.21

0.58

36.19 ± 0.5

36.38 ± 0.66

0.18

0.51

36.86 ± 0.67

36.88 ± 0.6

0.01

0.04

Week 2

35.61 ± 0.08

35.84 ± 0.11*

0.24

0.65

35.74 ± 0.55

35.74 ± 0.64

−0.00

−0.009

36.33 ± 0.4

36.26 ± 0.58

−0.07

−0.18

Week 3

35.18 ± 0.59

35.52 ± 0.66**

0.34

0.95

35.44 ± 0.74

35.53 ± 0.62

0.09

0.25

35.93 ± 0.60

35.86 ± 0.50

−0.07

−0.19

Week 4

35.54 ± 0.74

36.1 ± 0.74*

0.56

1.56

35.94 ± 0.64

36.12 ± 0.60

0.19

0.52

36.14 ± 0.86

36.28 ± 0.69

0.14

0.38

Week 5

36.41 ± 0.65

36.82 ± 0.57**

0.42

1.13

36.89 ± 0.58

36.88 ± 0.54

−0.02

−0.04

37.14 ± 0.60

37.14 ± 0.59

0

0

Week 6

37.09 ± 0.64

37.33 ± 0.56*

0.24

0.63

37.48 ± 0.57

37.38 ± 0.51

−0.1

−0.27

37.61 ± 0.53

37.46 ± 0.53

−0.15

−0.40

Week 7

36.71 ± 0.32

37.05 ± 0.35**

0.34

0.92

37.14 ± 0.38

37.19 ± 0.38

0.05

0.12

37.51 ± 0.35

37.51 ± 0.38

0

0

Week 8

36.55 ± 1.06

36.81 ± 1.07*

0.26

0.71

36.77 ± 0.38

36.81 ± 0.37

0.04

0.11

37.15 ± 0.35

37.14 ± 0.34

−0.01

−0.027

^∗𝑃 value <0.001 between lower right flank region and lower left flank region, ^∗∗𝑃 value <<10⁻² between lower right flank region and lower left flank region.
Temperature distribution was symmetrical (difference in temperature between right and left side was not significant) in the base line image before induction and also immediately after induction on zeroth day in all the regions and the value of asymmetrical temperature difference percentage was <0.5%.Then starting from the first week till ninth week after tumor induction asymmetrical temperature distribution was observed (difference in temperature was significant) in the lower flank region.The value of percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference in the tumor induced lower flank region was in the range of 0.5% to 2% whereas in abdomen and shoulder region it was <0.5%.