The Infrared Radiation Temperature Characteristic of Acupoints of Mammary Gland Hyperplasia Patients

Objective. To ascertain pathological information on hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) of patients via the infrared radiation temperature of acupoints. Method. Patients with HMG and healthy controls were tested using an infrared thermal imager. Results. In controls, no significant difference in temperature was observed between points with the same name (P > 0.05). The temperature of all tested points was found to be higher in the group with HMG than in that of the healthy controls, except for the left and right Zusanli (ST36). The temperature of the right Rugen (ST18), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Hegu (LI4) reached a statistically significant heightened level (P = 0.046~P < 0.001). The temperature of the Zusanli (ST36) and Hegu (LI4) present on the right side was significantly higher than that of the left (P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, resp.), while the temperature of the left Youmen (KI21) was significantly higher than that of the right (P = 0.008). Conclusion. The temperature of the bilateral acupoints in healthy controls was symmetrical, and the raised temperatures observed of the Rugen (ST18), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Hegu (LI4) acupoints of HMG patients and the imbalance of the temperature of the bilateral acupoints Zusanli (ST36), Youmen (KI21), and Hegu (LI4) carried special pathological information about HMG disease.