Clinical results of RF capacitive hyperthermia combined with radiation for abdominal and pelvic deep-seated tumors

Thirty-one patients with deep-seated abdominal and pelvic tumors were treated with thermoradiotherapy. The patients were given 3 to 14 sessions of hyperthermia for 30 - 60 min once or twice a week within 30 min after irradiation. Irradiation was given in 5 fraction/week with a total dosage of 20 to 70 Gy. The temperature of 42 deg C or more could be achieved within the central part of tumor in 20 patients (65 %). Tumor regression was evaluated as 100 % in 4 patients (13 %), 80 -< 100 % in 5 (16 %), 50 -<80 % in 9 (29 %), and < 50 % in 13 (42 %). It was dependent on tumor size, radiation doses, and average minimum temperature for tumors. The possible factors for favorable prognosis were a tumor of less than 3 cm in diameter, a total dose of more than 60 Gy, and an average minimum temperature of more than 41 deg C for tumors. The appearance of low density areas on post-treatment CT scans was associated with higher temperature in the central part of tumor. Thermoradiotherapy-related atrophic cystitis or subcutaneous fibrosis was encountered in each one patient. (Namekawa, K.)