Guideline for the clinical application, documentation and analysis of clinical studies for regional deep hyperthermia: Quality management in regional deep hyperthermia

Objectives: These guidelines contain recommendations for the implementation of quality-assured hyperthermia treatments. The objective is to guarantee an internationally comparable and easily understandable method for hyperthermia treatment and for the subsequent scientific analysis of the treatment results. The guidelines describe regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) and MR-controlled partial body hyperthermia (PBH) of children, adolescents and adult patients. Hyperthermia in terms of these guidelines is defined as a treatment combining chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Methods: These guidelines are based on practical experience from several hyperthermia centres in Europe. Our collaborative effort has ensured coordinated standards and quality control procedures in regional deep and partial body hyperthermia. The guidelines were developed by the Atzelsberg Research Group of the IAH (http://www.hyperthermie. org) of the German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft) to specifically ensure that the multi-institutional studies initiated by the Atzelsberg Research Group are executed following a single, uniform level of quality. Results: The guidelines contain recommendations for procedural methods for treatment using hyperthermia. They commence with diagnosis, which is followed by preparation and treatment and concludes with standardised analysis for the reporting of results.

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