Efficacy of the Reduction Mammaplasty Measured by Infrared Thermography-MDbP 304

Purpose: Gigantomastia is associated with several physical symptoms. Reduction mammaplasty can resolve discomfort, but an objective and quantitative analysis of the symptomatic relief associated with reduction mammaplasty is limited. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of reduction mammaplasty, as measured by the symptomatic relief using objective indicators. Methods: Between January and May 2009, patients who visited our clinic for gigantomastia were retrospectively evaluated, for neck, shoulder, and back pain. Fifteen subjects were enrolled in this study; they all underwent treatment by reduction mammaplasty, and presented neck and shoulder pain. The surface body temperature was measured at the cervical and thoracic areas, by infrared thermography (Iris-5000; Medicore, Seongnam, Korea). Infrared thermography was re-assessed in nine of 15 cases who returned for follow-up examinations 3 to 4 months after surgery. Results: The mean age of the group was 40.6±10.3 years; the mean body mass index was 24.6±2.1 kg/m. The average weight of the removed breast tissue after surgery was 616±241.8 g on the right, and 603±259.6 g on the left. On pre-, and post-operative infrared thermography, the average absolute value of the thoracic and cervical surface temperatures changed siginificantly (p<0.050). Conclusion: We observed significant changes in the surface temperature in the cervical and thoracic areas by using an infrared thermography. Therefore, infrared thermography can be used to detect the relief of symptoms, due to heavy breasts, objectively and quantitatively.