[Hyperthermia in gynecological malignancy]

This paper mainly reports our clinical findings so far obtained from thermotherapy performed as part of a multimodality treatment for gynecological malignant tumors. In our thermotherapeutic method, microwaves at 2.45 GHz were applied for superficial tumors and RF waves at 13.56 MHz capable of warming deeper lesions were locally applied, whereas 70-80 MHz radial-type waves were regionally administered when heating of the entire pelvic cavity was required. However, only three of 103 patients were given thermotherapy alone, 47 were given combined chemotherapy, 47 were given radiotherapy and 6 were given both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The microwave heating was mainly combined with chemotherapy, and when the results obtained from chemotherapy alone were compared with those of thermochemotherapy in the same regimen, the group treated with thermochemotherapy was found to have a more favorable chemotherapeutic effect and prognosis. RF radial-type hyperthermia with radiotherapy was proved to be more effective for reduction of tumor size and histopathological effect than radiotherapy alone.