Combining 70MHz and 434MHz or wIRA Hyperthermia Applicators for Optimal Coverage of Semi-Deep Tumour Sites

Hyperthermia (i.e. heating of tumour tissue to 40-43°C) is used in clinical oncology to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Superficial tumours are generally heated with infrared applicators or MW antennas (434-915 MHz) and deep seated tumours with RF antennas (70-150 MHz). New treatment protocols are presented which combine RF, wIRA and MW systems for heating semi-deep seated tumours exceeding a depth of 4 cm either superficially or at depth. Clinical results for a tumour in the breast shows that adequate heating of the whole tumour volume is feasible when RF antennas are combined with MW antennas or infrared applicators to heat deep and superficial parts of the tumour, respectively.