Heating or cooling to increase contrast in thermographic diagnostics

The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of enhancement of contrast in thermographic investigations directed towards medical diagnostics. Results of in vivo experiments on pigs are shown for evaluation of skin injuries inflicted by burns introduced in a controlled way. Use of cooling procedures by ice or a cooling fan as well as heating using optical irradiation is discussed. The heating procedure seems to be more comfortable in practical use while cooling gives better contrast, due to a bigger acceptable temperature span.