Local Hyperthermia

Local Hyperthermia - Hyperthermia is a cancer treatment in which cancerous body tissue is exposed to extremely high temperatures (up to 106°) in order to destroy or weaken cancerous cells. Local hyperthermia treatment applies heat directly to a small area of cancerous tissue (a tumor), while sparing nearby surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible.

Depending on the type of cancer, as well as the size and location of the tumor, a variety of methods can be used to heat tumors (e.g., microwave, radiofrequency, ultrasound). Local hyperthermia may be used to treat tumors that are in or just below the skin, within or near body cavities, or deep within the body. Hyperthermia can be used with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biotherapy/immunotherapy.

Aside from local hyperthermia, other methods of hyperthermia include regional hyperthermia (to heat large areas of tissue, such as a body cavity, organ, or limb) and whole-body hyperthermia (to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body by raising body temperature).

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