Interstitial hyperthermia in combination with brachytherapy.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Flexible coaxial cables were modified to serve as microwave antennas operating at a frequency of 915 MHz. These antennas were inserted into nylon afterloading tubes that had been implanted in tumors using conventional interstitial implantation techniques for Ir-192 seed brachytherapy. The tumor volume was heated to 42.degree.-45.degree. C within 15 min and heating was continued for a total of 1 h per treatment. Immediately following a conventional brachytherapy dose and removal of the Ir seeds the tumors were heated again in a 2nd treatment. This interstitial technique for delivering local hyperthermia should be compatible with most brachytherapy methods. The technique has proved so far to be practical and without complications. Temperature distributions obtained in tissue phantoms and a [cancer] patient are described.