Fundamental Aspects of Electromagnetic Hyperthermia in Medicine.

This article considers the fundamental advantages of electromagnetic hyperthermia over different techniques for heating the human being's body. It also presents basic parameters that characterize hyperthermia and electromagnetic techniques for heating biological tissues. Apart from that, engineering solutions directed at providing effective hyperthermia are outlined.

Development of a novel method to enhance the therapeutic effect on tumours by simultaneous action of radiation and heating.

Purpose: This paper describes the development of a new type of electromagnetic hyperthermia applicator delivering dose control within large application fields and increased effectiveness by providing simultaneous action of radiation and heating (SRH) in malignant tumours, and development of a dosimetric feedback method to support SRH.

Materials And Methods: Single and phased arrays of flexible applicators have been developed to allow simultaneous hyperthermia and external beam therapy. A frequency of 434 MHz is used to heat near-surface and moderately deep-seated tumours and 70 MHz for deep-seated tumours.

[The efficacy of simultaneous and sequential irradiation and hyperthermic treatment of tumor cells in vitro and transplantable tumors in vivo].

The elevated efficacy of simultaneous treatment of cancer by irradiation and hyperthermia in comparison with their sequential application was confirmed in the experiments with V-79 cells in vitro and transplantable melanoma B-16 and ELD solid carcinoma in vivo. Irradiation of the tumors transplanted in the calf muscle of mice was performed at the extended Bragg peak of accelerated protons, while extremities of the group of 6 animals were fixed one after another in a water bath at 42 degrees C (hyperthermia) or at 36 degrees C (irradiation at normal temperature). In another series of experiments, the tumors were heated with the microwave (2450 MHz) antennae and irradiated on the 60Co clinical machine.

Characteristics and performance evaluation of the capacitive Contact Flexible Microstrip Applicator operating at 70 MHz for external hyperthermia.

Purpose: To characterise and evaluate the capacitive Contact Flexible Microstrip Applicator operating at 70 MHz, CFMA-70. This applicator is introduced for the treatment of superficial tumours with extension in depth beyond the range of regular superficial applicators.

Methods: E-field measurements were performed in an elliptical phantom filled with a saline solution using an E-field vector probe.

Computational evaluation of changes in ionizing radiation dose distribution in tissues caused by EM applicators when external radiation and hyperthermia act simultaneously.

Purpose: The presented theoretical study investigates the influence of CFMA-like electromagnetic microstrip applicators (MAs) on ionizing radiation intensity and depth radiation dose distribution (DRDD) in irradiated tissues which are tightly covered with a MA.

Methods: It is shown that at relatively low photon energy (<200 keV) the MA does not affect noticeable the profile of the DRDD curve and does not lead to skin overdosing. Nevertheless, it significantly (up to 20-35%) decreases the low energy ionizing radiation intensity.