title: Microwave hyperthermia in conjunction with radiotherapy in superficial tumours: correlation of thermal parameters with tumour regression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between the thermal parameters of hyperthermia and the clinical outcome in patients with superficial tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 20 patients were included with either submandibular lymph nodes from head and neck cancer, or breast cancer relapses post-mastectomy. They were treated with radiation in combination with one session of 433 MHz microwave hyperthermia (1 hour, 42.5 °C-46 °C). The dose of irradiation ranged from 54 to 60 Gy. The thermal parameters calculated were the minimum volume temperature, the maximum volume temperature and the time interval where the volume temperature was greater than 44 °C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients responded positively to the combined treatment and 60% of the patients showed a complete response. Of the three parameters tested, the only parameter that was found to correlate with the reduction of the tumour diameter was the time with volume temperatures greater than 44 °C (p < 0.001, Spearman rho). No moderate toxicity was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microwave heating should be over 44 °C for favourable treatment response, when combined with radiotherapy. More patients are needed to confirm the above results.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Greece; Laboratory of Microwaves and Optical Fibers, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. vlkouloul@ece.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Triantopoulou
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Platoni
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Aretaieion University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kouvaris
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microwaves and Optical Fibers, National Technical University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzunoglou
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antypas
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Hygeia General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karaiskos
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Hygeia General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aggelakis
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Hygeia General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrouvas
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kelekis