Infrared thermography in the diagnosis of palmar hyperhidrosis: A diagnostic study.

ABSTRACT

Background: Primary hyperhidrosis is a common condition affecting 1-3% of the general population. Excessive sweating leads to reduced surface temperature due to evaporation that can be captured using a thermal camera. We performed this study to find the utility of thermography in the diagnosis of palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional diagnostic study conducted in a tertiary care dermatology center during the study period Apr 20-Mar 21. Adult patients with palmar hyperhidrosis diagnosed by expert dermatologists were recruited. The severity was assessed using the hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS). The measurements were done using a FLIR™ thermal camera. A pilot study, including 30 patients and 30 controls were performed. The results of the pilot study were used for the calculation of sample size. Result: The study included 55 patients and 110 controls. The mean age of the patients and controls was 22.4 (±3) years and 21.7 (±2.5) years, respectively. The mean temperature difference in the patient and control group was found to be 19.6 (±3.3)0 F and 5.8 (±2.9)0 F, respectively (p < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) to assess the discriminatory ability of mean temperature difference in diagnosis of hyperhidrosis found the area under the curve (AUC) to be 0.995 and a temperature difference of 11.5 °F provides sensitivity and specificity of 98.2% and 97.3% for the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis. Conclusions: Thermal imaging is a simple, noninvasive, and objective tool for the diagnosis of hyperhidrosis. It has potential utility in monitoring the effect of the treatment.