[Neoplasm treatment using hyperthermia and radiotherapy].

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Physics

Context:

• Hyperthermia therapy is an established cancer treatment modality.
• 13.56 MHz generators offer a specific frequency for targeted heating.
• Understanding thermal distribution and patient outcomes is crucial for optimizing treatment.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the thermal distribution of hyperthermia in tissue phantoms using a 13.56 MHz generator.
• To assess the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of hyperthermia combined with irradiation in cancer patients.
• To investigate the potential of hyperthermia for curative applications.

Summary:

• Isotherm patterns in muscle and fatty tissue phantoms were analyzed following hyperthermia induced by a 13.56 MHz generator, considering electrode size and cooling system effects.
• Therapy outcomes for 136 patients receiving hyperthermia and irradiation demonstrated significant effectiveness in ORL tumors, cervical lymph node metastases, and superficial/semi-deep tumors.
• Both subjective and objective side effects were found to be tolerable and unimportant, respectively.

Impact:

• The study highlights the effectiveness of 13.56 MHz hyperthermia in treating specific cancer types.
• The findings suggest hyperthermia is a viable palliative treatment with a favorable side effect profile.
• Results support the need for further randomized prospective studies to explore curative applications.