Right-sided lateralization of skin temperature in healthy young persons.

PURPOSE Previous studies reported a peripheral immune asymmetry and lateralization of different paired organ cancers. Because of the close relationship of immune system with body temperature, the aim of the study was to test the possible lateralization of skin temperature. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four hundred sixty three healthy subjects (325 women, 138 men) with an average age of 23.62 years (SD = 8.65) participated in this study. All skin temperature measurements were done 8:00-9:00 a.m. Skin temperature was assessed for three different points in skin: axillary, thumb and external auditory. RESULTS Skin temperature was statistically significantly higher on the right side of the body than on the left side, when measured by axillary and thumb temperatures. But there was no statistically significant difference in external auditory temperature. CONCLUSION The asymmetry of skin temperature may result from the peripheral immune asymmetry or the asymmetric lymph node distribution.