Quality Assurance of Superficial Hyperthermia Treatments Superficial Hyperthermia Treatments

In hyperthermia, tumour-loaded tissue is heated to a supraphysiological level of 40-45 °C. Hyperthermia is a well-established adjuvant to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Hyperthermia causes direct cytotoxicity and has effect on tumour blood flow and oxygenation, which may enhance the other treatment modality. Further, hyperthermia sensitizes cells to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, among other things by inhibition of DNA repair processes. The efficacy of hyperthermia has been demonstrated in randomized trials for multiple cancer types [1-18]. Several heating techniques and devices exist to heat tumours at different sites: deepregional and part-body hyperthermia, local hyperthermia, interstitial and endocavitary hyperthermia, and whole body hyperthermia [19]. The Erasmus MC – Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center has three treatment modes available, all of which use electromagnetic waves to heat tissue. Tumours in the pelvic region (deep hyperthermia) can be heated using the BSD-2000 system (BSD Medical, USA). The in-house developed Lucite cone applicator system can heat tumours at the body surface (superficial hyperthermia). Recently, also a specific system has been developed to heat tumours in the head and neck region [20]. The scope of this thesis is limited to superficial hyperthermia (SHT). Therefore, the next sections will focus on the clinical context and quality assurance of SHT treatments.

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