Hyperthermia therapy for low blood supplied tumors: a model of computer simulation

The blood perfusion of some tumors is relatively low and poorly responsive to hyperthermia therapy. As a result, the blood now provides relatively little heat sinking for tumors We hypothesized that the the final gradient between tumors and normal tissues could be increased by applying energy only during the pulsation of arteries. Tests of the hypothesis were done by using a finite element model, which simulated a tumor surrounded by normal tissues and this tumor received either continuous or pulsatile heat, together with the pulsatile blood flow. Our results indicated there was a thermal gradient of 8/spl deg/C between pulsatile and continuous powers on heat delivery. Established values for tissues and tumors were incorporated into this model and it facilitated prediction of the possible results of hyperthermia therapy.