Regional hyperthermia: a feasibility analysis.
Thirty patients received regional hyperthermia using the annular phased array system (APAS) in conjunction with either radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A total of 139 treatment sessions were available for analysis, averaging 4.6 per patient. The number of hyperthermia sessions per patient varied from 1 to 9 and was dependent on the patients' tolerance. The duration of the sessions also varied considerably. Although the goal of each session was to attain temperatures of 42 degrees C or higher for 1 h, minimally one-half hour, this was rarely achieved. Temperatures of 42 degrees C or higher were achieved in 95 (68.8 per cent) sessions. The time span at that level ranged between 1 and 40 min, median 8.5 min. The predominant limiting factor in 18 (60 per cent) of patients was local discomfort. Generalized discomfort (anxiety) as a predominantly limiting factor in 5 (16.6 per cent), systemic temperature elevation in 3 (10 per cent), and tachycardia in two (6.6 per cent) patients. Careful attention to technical details and patient preparation may ameliorate or eliminate some of the limiting factors and improve the efficacy of heat delivery.
Pilepich
M V
MV
Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Radiation Oncology, St Louis, Missouri 63110.
Myerson
R J
RJ
Emami
B N
BN
Perez
C A
CA
Leybovich
L
L
von Gerichten
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors