Definition

1. Noun:
   • A diagnostic imaging technique: Thermography is a method that uses a thermograph (an infrared camera) to visually record and measure the heat patterns (thermal radiation) emitted from the surface of an object or body.
   • A medical diagnostic application: Specifically in medicine, it refers to a technique for detecting and recording variations in heat produced by different areas of the body, used as a diagnostic tool.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor recommended breast thermography as a supplemental screening tool.
  • Thermography is used in building inspections to identify heat loss.
  • Veterinarians sometimes use thermography to diagnose lameness in horses.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Thermography: Often specified to distinguish its use in detecting tumors, inflammation, or assessing blood flow (thermoregulation) from industrial applications.
  • Medical thermography can reveal abnormal patterns of heat associated with breast cancer.
• Industrial Thermography: The use of the technique in non-medical fields like electrical maintenance, building diagnostics, or manufacturing.
  • The engineer performed an industrial thermography scan on the electrical panel to find faulty connections.

Variants and Related Words

• Thermograph (n): The instrument (infrared camera) used to produce a thermogram.
• Thermogram (n): The visual image or record produced by a thermograph.
• Thermographic (adj): Relating to or made by thermography (e.g., thermographic image).

Synonyms

• Infrared imaging: A more technical term describing the same core technology.
• Thermal imaging: A common synonym emphasizing the capture of heat patterns.

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI): A full term sometimes used synonymously with medical thermography.
• Breast thermography: A specific screening application of the technique.

Noun

1. diagnostic technique using a thermograph to record the heat produced by different parts of the body; used to study blood flow and to detect tumors