Esophageal and tympanic temperature responses to core blood temperature changes during hyperthermia

Esophageal, rectal, tympanic, and central blood temperature, i.e., pulmonary artery and aortic arch, were recorded in three patients during iatrogenic whole-body hyperthermia for the treatment of advanced malignant metastatic cancer. Aortic temperature closely followed changes in pulmonary arterial temperature, with an average delay time of 27 s. Esophageal temperature reflected quantitatively and more quickly (avg lag time, 80 s) the temperature changes in the pulmonary artery than tympanic membrane temperature. Tympanic temperature was consistently lower than the blood temperature of the heart during steady state. Therefore it is suggested that esophageal temperature is a preferable index of central blood temperature. Additionally, measurement of esophageal temperature can be made more easily and safely than tympanic membrane temperature.