Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 215-217 , May 2009

Infrared tympanic thermography as a substitute for a probe in the evaluation of ear temperature for post-mortem interval determination: A pilot study

  • C. Cattaneo, MD PhD (Associate Professor, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Service de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hopital Lapeyronie, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
    • Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi, via Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milano, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi, via Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milano, Italy. Tel.: +39 0250315678; fax: +39 0250315724.
    • ,
  • A. Di Giancamillo, DVM PhD (Research Assistant, Veterinary Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Veterinarie per la Sicurezza Alimentare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
    • ,
  • O. Campari, MD (Specialist, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi, via Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milano, Italy
    • ,
  • N. Orthmann, MD (Specialist, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi, via Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milano, Italy
    • ,
  • L. Martrille, MD (Specialist, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Service de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hopital Lapeyronie, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
    • ,
  • C. Domeneghini, DVM (Professor, Veterinary Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Veterinarie per la Sicurezza Alimentare, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
    • ,
  • C. Jouineau, MD (Specialist, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Service de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hopital Lapeyronie, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
    • ,
  • E. Baccino, MD (Professor, Legal Medicine)

      Affiliations

    • Service de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hopital Lapeyronie, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France

Received 17 January 2007 ,Revised 7 February 2008 ,Accepted 8 July 2008.

References 

  1. Al-Alousi LM. A study of the shape of the post-mortem cooling curve in 117 forensic cases. Forensic Sci Int. 2002;125:237–244
  2. Baccino E, De Saint Martin L, Schuliar Y, Guilloteau P, Le Rhun M, Motin JF, et al. Outer ear temperature and time of death. Forensic Sci Int. 1996;83:133–146
  3. Baccino E. Response to Dr. Rutty’s letter re: outer ear temperature and time of death. Forensic Sci Int. 1997;87:173
  4. Bezinger TH, Taylor GW. Temperature: Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry. 111. New York: Rheinhold; 1963;
  5. Cattaneo CG, Frank SM, Hesel TW, El-Rahmany HK, Kim LJ, Tran KM. The accuracy and precision of body temperature monitoring methods during regional and general anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 2000;90(4):938–945
  6. Craig JV, Lancaster GA, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Smyth RL. Infrared ear thermometry compared with rectal thermometry in children: a systematic review. Lancet. 2002;360(9333):603–609
  7. Harasawa K, Kemmotsu O, Mayumi T, Kawano Y. Comparison of tympanic, esophageal and blood temperatures during mild hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass: a study using infrared emission detection tympanic thermometer. J Clin Monit. 1997;13(1):19–24
  8. Henssge C. Death time estimation in case work: I the rectal temperature time of death nomogram. Forensic Sci Int. 1988;38:209–236
  9. Henssge C, Madea B, Gallenkemper E. Death time estimation in case work: II integration of different methods. Forensic Sci Int. 1988;39:77–87
  10. Henssge C. Rectal temperature time of death nomogram: dependance of correctives factors on the body weight under stronger thermic insulation condition. Forensic Sci Int. 1992;54:51–66
  11. Henssge C, Brinkmann B, Puschel K. Todeszeitbestimmung durch messung der rektaltemperatur bei wassersuspension der leiche. (Determnation of time of death by measuring the rectal temperature in corpses suspended in water). Z Rechtsmed. 1984;92:255–276
  12. Henssge C, Beckmann F, Wischusen F, Brinkmann B. Determination of time of death by measuring central brain temperature. Z Rechtsmed. 1984;93:1–22
  13. Henssge C. Temperature-based methods II. In:  Henssge C,  Knight B,  Krompecher T,  Madea B,  Nokes L editor. The Estimation of the Time since Death in the Early Postmortem Period. London: Arnold University Press; 2002;p. 60–61
  14. Henssge C, Knight B, Krompecher T, Madea B, Nokes L. The Estimation of the Time since Death in the Early Postmortem Period. London: Arnold University Press; 2002;
  15. Hoffman C, Boyd M, Briere B, Loos F, Norton PJ. Evaluation of three brands of tympanic thermometer. Can J Nurs Res. 1999;31(1):117–130
  16. Houdas Y, Guieu JD. Distribution Thermique dans l’Organisme. Paris: Simep ed.; 1977;
  17. Imamura M, Matsukawa T, Ozaki M, Sessler DI, Nishiyama T, Kumazawa T. The accuracy and precision of four infrared aural canal thermometers during cardiac surgery. Acta Anaesth Scand. 1998;42(10):1222–1226
  18. Joly LM, Giraudeau B, Monchi M, Oswald AM. Is measurement of body temperature by infrared tympanic thermometry reproducible?. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2001;20(10):833–837
  19. Joseph AEA, Schickele E. A general method for assessing factors controlling post mortem cooling. J Forensic Sci. 1970;15:364–391
  20. Kawamura A, Matsukawa T, Ozaki M, Okuyama K, Ohkawa I, Kumazawa T. Use of modified infrared aural canal thermometers during cardiac surgery. Masui. 2000;49(7):792–795
  21. Knight B, Nokes L. Temperature-based methods I. In:  Henssge C,  Knight B,  Krompecher T,  Madea B,  Nokes L editor. The Estimation of the Time since Death in the Early Postmortem Period. London: Arnold University Press; 2002;p. 29–31
  22. Matsukawa T, Ozaki M, Hanagata K, Iwashita H, Miyaji T, Kumazawa T. A comparison of four infrared rympanic thermometers with tympanic membrane temperatures measured by thermocouples. Can J Anaesth. 1996;43(12):1224–1228
  23. Rutty GN. Concerning the paper by Baccino et al. entitled: outer ear temperature and time of death. Forensic Sci Int. 1997;87(2):171–173
  24. Rutty GN. The estimation of the time since death using temepratures recorder from the external auditory canal Part I: can a temperature be recorded and interpreted from this site. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2005;1(1):41
  25. Rutty GN. The estimation of the time since death using temepratures recorder from the external auditory canal. Part II: using single temperatures from this site to estimate the time since death with consideration of environmental body factors that could affect the estimation. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2005;1(2):113
  26. Valle PC, Kildhal-Andersen O, Steinvoll K. Infrared tympanic thermometry compared to mercury thermometers. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2000;120(1):15–17

PII: S1752-928X(08)00183-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.07.005

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 215-217 , May 2009

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