Treatment of malignant brain tumors with focused ultrasound hyperthermia and radiation: results of a phase I trial

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Abstract
Hyperthermia delivered by scanned focused ultrasound was combined with external beam radiation to treat 15 patients with primary malignant tumors of the brain. A preliminary craniectomy was performed to avoid attenuation of the ultrasound beam by the skull, and multiple thermal sensors were employed to ascertain intratumoral temperatures. The target temperature was 42.5°C at the tumor boundary. This was attained at more than one point during every complete treatment, while a mean temperature in excess of 42°C was achieved within the scanned tumor volume during at least 1 treatment in 11 patients. Technical problems and toxicities are described.