RF hyperthermia: modeling and clinical systems

Clinical hyperthermia (HT) can be divided into: superficial, interstitial, whole-body and deep-body HT. Non-ablative deep heating in the human trunk is a precondition for novel very promising methods of cancer treatment, such as heat-guided modalities of drug targeting and gene expression. Further, a non-invasive monitoring of temperature (and other physiological parameters) in a patient under thermotherapy is required. Thus a combination of HT with clinical monitoring systems, such as a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, is a consequence. MR methods for temperature monitoring have been developed. The most advanced technology for deep-body heating is based on annular phased arrays (APA) of radiators. We report on recent advances in the technology and techniques of deep-body heating. We present two 3D HT applicators based on different antenna concepts. In this context, we review some recent improvements in modeling patients and HT devices and describe how the compatibility between HT and MR systems has been achieved. Examples of deep heating under simultaneous MR temperature monitoring in phantoms, volunteers and patients are presented.