Comparative Evaluation of Hyperthermia Heating Modalities: I. Numerical Analysis of Thermal Dosimetry Bracketing Cases

A method for comparing the relative abilities of different hyperthermia heating modalities to properly heat tumors has been developed using solutions of the bio-heat transfer equation. A single measure, the range of absorbed powers that gives acceptable tissue temperature distributions, is used to characterize the ability of a given heating technique to heat a given tumor. An acceptable tissue temperature distribution is one for which (a) the temperatures in the coolest regions of the tumor are above a minimum therapeutic value, (b) the temperatures in the hottest regions of the tumor do not exceed a maximum clinically acceptable value, and (c) the normal tissue temperatures do not exceed maximum clinically acceptable levels. This measure can be interpreted directly in clinical terms as the range of power settings on the power indicator of a heating device for which acceptable tumor heatings will occur. This paper describes the basis of the method and investigates the role of tumor blood perfusion pattern...