Water bolus influence on temperature distribution of applicator for small melanoma tumors

In this paper influence of the water bolus temperature on the thermal distribution inside an homogeneous muscles phantom are analyzed for a microwave applicator for superficial hyperthermia on small subcutaneous tumors. Temperature simulations were used for the analysis considering two models with different thermal interfaces between the water bolus and the phantom. The results show dependence of the temperature peak deepness which position reduces increasing the bolus temperature with differences between the two models considered. These results can be used for a preliminary guideline for the choice of water bolus temperature to be used on hyperthermia treatment according to the tumor size and deepness.