Breath temperature could identify lung cancer

The research suggests that testing the temperature of breath could be a simple and non-invasive method to either confirm or reject the presence of lung cancer.
Many research teams have been looking at the possibility of using breath tests for a number of cancers. This is the first study looking at breath temperature as a marker in lung cancer
The researchers enrolled 82 people in the study who had been referred for a full diagnostic test after an x-ray suggested the presence of lung cancer. 40 patients received a positive diagnosis, while 42 patients had the diagnosis rejected. Researchers measured the temperature of exhaled breath in all patients using a breath thermometer device, known as an X-Halo device.
The results demonstrated that the patients with lung cancer had a higher breath temperature than those without. The temperature also increased with the number of years a person had smoked and the stage at which their lung cancer had developed.
The researchers also identified a cut-off value in the measurement of temperature, which they proved could identify lung cancer with a high level of accuracy. 
Professor Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano, lead author of the study from the University of Foggia, Italy, said: