We studied the effectiveness of hyperthermotherapy in the treatment of deep abdominal tumors using Thermotron-RF8.
Although the endotractal heating has been reported to be an effective therapy for esophageal cancer, it is difficult to obtain homogeneous distribution using this technique. In order to investigate methods of obtaining homogeneous distribution of heat during extracorporeal heating of the esophagus, a capacitive heating device, Thermotron-RF8, was used for basic trial on agar phantoms and swine. Heat was applied for 20-30 min. at 500-600 watts.
1) Trial were performed on models of the esophagus constructed by boring a cylindrical channel with a 2cm radius through the center of an agar phantom. Temperature distribution during hyperthermia was measured by thermography in the presence and absence of potato starch dissolved in physiological saline within the channel. 2) For trials performed in the swine model, temperature sensors were inserted via the stomach and placed at 3 sites within the lower esophageal lumen and at one site touching the esophageal wall. After placement of a double balloon catheter within the esophagus, the tempera-tures of the luminal surface and esophageal wall measured during application of hyperthermia in the presence and absence of potato starch within the esophageal lumen.
1) In agar phantoms, not containing starch, the RF wave was concentrated at the latemal portion of the channel, and hot areas formed. In filled channels, there was homogenous distribution of heat. 2) In swine esophagi, intraluminal temperatures in filled showed significant increases compared with that in empty lumina, and increases in esophageal wall temperatures in both filled and empty lumina showed similar patterns with no significant differences. In addition, in empty lumina temperatures of the wall showed significant increase compared with that of the lumen. In the filled lumina, temperatures in both the wall and the lumen showed no significant differences. These results indicate that more homogenous temperature distribution is obtained when the lumen is filled than when it is empty, and that measurement of the temperature within the lumen can be used as an indirect measurement of wall temperature.
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