The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Comparison of the Diagnostic Validity of Real and Absolute Skin Temperature Differences for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

복합부위통증증후군 진단 시 좌우 체온 차이의 실제값과 절대값의 진단적 타당도 비교

  • Nahm, Francis Sahngun (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Pyung Bok (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Soo Young (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Yong Chul (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Sang Chul (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine)
  • 남상건 (서울대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이평복 (서울대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 박수영 (서울대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 김용철 (서울대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이상철 (서울대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실)
  • Received : 2009.06.30
  • Accepted : 2009.07.23
  • Published : 2009.08.01
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Abstract

Background: A skin temperature difference is one of the variables used in the diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome. However, there have been no reports as to whether the real (${\Delta}T$) or absolute value ($|{\Delta}T|$) of skin temperature differences should be used in the diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome. This study was conducted to compare the diagnostic validity of ${\Delta}T$ with $|{\Delta}T|$ for complex regional pain syndrome using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Methods: Infrared thermographic images were obtained from the 144 patients who were suspected to have CRPS in a unilateral limb. After ${\Delta}T$ and $|{\Delta}T|$ calculation from the thermographic image, ROCs of ${\Delta}T$ and $|{\Delta}T|$ were developed, and the areas under the curve (AUC) for the ROC curves were compared. Results: AUCs of ${\Delta}T$ and $|{\Delta}T|$ were 0.520 and 0.746 respectively, this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Absolute skin temperature difference shows greater validity in the diagnosis of CRPS than ${\Delta}T$. Therefore, $|{\Delta}T|$ is more useful when comparing the skin temperature of CRPS patients.

Keywords

References

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