Electrical impedance tomography: prospects for non-invasive control of deep hyperthermia treatments

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is assessed as a means of monitoring deep hyperthermia treatments in both phantom and in vivo studies. EIT measurements during heating of an inhomogeneous leg phantom show good correlation with internal temperatures measured with invasive probes. Measurements whilst altering the temperature of the stomach contents in volunteers demonstrate the capability of EIT for imaging temperature change at depth in the torso. Significant problems remain to be overcome before EIT can be used in the clinic; however, the technique may be an important additional control factor as a complement to invasive monitoring.