NON-INVASIVE IMAGING TECHNIQUES AS A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SKIN DAMAGE DUE TO IONIZING RADIATION

Abstract

This study tested the ability of two non-invasive techniques, thermography and near-infrared multi-spectral imaging, to quantitatively assess the response of mouse skin to a single dose of X-ray irradiation. Thermal images from an 8-12 micron thermal camera were recorded after a cold stimulation to see the thermal recovery of the skin. The irradiated areas showed a significantly faster thermal recovery than the non-irradiated areas two weeks after radiation (p < 0.05).

The NIR multi-spectral imager obtained images at six specially selected wavelengths between 700 and 1000 nm. Two-layer model-based diffuse reflectance spectroscopy monitored changes in blood oxygen saturation and blood volume. Blood oxygen fractions were significantly lower after radiation (p < 0.05). Blood volume changed in six of seven irradiated mice one week after radiation. The non-invasive imaging techniques were successful in quantitatively analyzing the response of the skin to a single dose of irradiation.