Phase-I/II-Studie zur lokalen Hyperthermie zervikaler N2/N3-Lymphknotenmetastasen

Abstract

Patients with advanced lymph node metastases from head and neck tumors at stage N2/N3 (i.e. UICC IV) present a difficult therapeutic problem. Despite combined radio-chemotherapy and hyperfractionated and/or accelerated fractionation regimens, local control of these tumors remains unsatisfactory. For this reason, the value of local radio wave/microwave hyperthermia was examined for this patient group in a phase I/II study.

Status of Clinical Hyperthermia

“…However, it should be remembered that there are many varying risk factors of importance for the outcome in this group of patients. Another problem is that the current heating devices are only able to heat properly at depths down to about 3 cm, as reflected in better tumour control for limited-sized tumours (52)(53)(54).…”