The effect of obliquity in clinical thermograms

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Abstract
The interpretation of clinical thermograms is critically dependent upon the assumed value of the radiative emissivity of [human] skin, and its variation with angle from the normal to the skin surface. Both have been measured, and the usual value for the former is 0.98 at around 5 .mu.m in wavelength. There remains a controversy as to the magnitude of the so-called obliquity effect and its consequent clinical importance. The obliquity effect, although a factor to be aware of, should not be a particularly significant limitation to clinical thermography even in areas of complex morphology. A clinical hotspot of, for example, 1.degree. C will only be suppressed at an obliquity of some 70.degree.