Some aspects of quality management in deep regional hyperthermia

Abstract

The hyperthermia effect is based on its thermal influence on tumours. Therefore a controlled heating of the tumours must be achieved. In order to guarantee this, two points must be fulfilled at least: First, the hyperthermia equipment must have the necessary power and steering capability. Second, the distribution of the 'hyperthermic drug', the heat, has to be measured and controlled over the whole treatment time. To reach this aim both a sophisticated technique and a staff trained in hyperthermia are required. In treating patients such as those with cervical cancer, the volume to be exposed and the dosage must be clarified. This means that very special technical and medical conditions must be fulfilled in hyperthermia. To reach and maintain a certain level of quality, hyperthermia is embedded in a framework of procedures. These procedures are defined in the modules of quality management. Therefore quality management must contain specific guidelines for each application, i.e. coordinated standards have to be defined. When adapting these standards in hyperthermia, comparable and comprehensible results of the treatment are guaranteed. Furthermore, an analysis of the treatments under a scientific point of view will be possible and finally result in improvements of this method.

Theoretical analysis, design and development of a 27-MHz folded loop antenna as a potential applicator in hyperthermia treatment

“…The results above are comparable and similar to those reported by other research groups that have used circular or loop-based antenna set-ups for hyperthermia treatment and at a variety of operation frequencies [1][2][3]17]. With our study we are sharing our experience concerning the introduction of a new deep heating system which has some new advantages with the already reported systems in the literature:…”

“…It is normally used as an adjuvant therapy, as it is most effective when used in conjunction with conventional therapies such as radiation and certain chemotherapy drugs. Hyperthermia is a promising technique to improve cancer treatment, but it still remains largely experimental and not in widespread use [1][2][3].…”

Clinical integration of software tool VEDO for adaptive and quantitative application of phased array hyperthermia in the head and neck

“…All these advantages will potentially lead to a more reproducible treatment quality and VEDO will fit perfectly in the HT quality management as described by Bruggmoser [27].…”

Editorial

“…Bruggmoser [12] describes some of the needs for quality management in deep regional hyperthermia. Part of good quality hyperthermia treatment has been described in guidelines, but a large part still has to be done.…”