Hyperthermia with implanted electrodes

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Abstract
A general solution is given for the steady state form of the heat conduction equation applied to a simple [vertebrate] tumor model which is imagined as being heated by electrical currents flowing between metallic electrodes. The model assumes a homogeneous tumor with no blood flow. The solution for the special case of constant temperature and potential at the surface of the heated volume is examined in detail. Independent of the particular tumor and electrode geometry, a close relationship exists between the steady state temperature distribution and the electrical potential. Among the more important implications of this relationship are that equipotential surfaces within the heated volume are also isothermal surfaces; no areas of excessive heat at or near any sharp edges or corners of the electrodes should develop, despite the high electric field intensity. A procedure is outlined which greatly facilitate the determination of temperature distributions in phantoms. The usefulness and the limitations of the theoretical models in clinical hyperthermia for cancer therapy are discussed.
Funding Information
  • Comprehensive Cancer Care Support (CA 13148)

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