Measurement of surface temperature in lung cancer

We measured the surface temperature of the tumors in 27 patients with primary lung cancer, using a flexible bronchofiberscope and a thermometer made from chromel-constantan. The thermometer was inserted into the aspiration channel of the bronchofiberscope, and temperature was studied under bronchofiberscopic located in the central portion of the lung were higher than those of the carina of the trachea (P less than 0.01), truncus superior (P less than 0.01), or truncus inferior (P less than 0.05), and almost equal to those of the peripheral lung. Thus, lung cancer showed a significantly higher surface temperature. When 67Ga scintigraphy was performed in 22 patients with lung cancer, the temperature of the high-uptake group was higher than that of the low-uptake group.