Local Hyperthermia for Laryngeal Cancer
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Laryngeal Cancer Treatment: Local Hyperthermia
Local hyperthermia exposes small areas of laryngeal tissue to high temperatures (up to 106ºF) in order to destroy cancerous laryngeal cells or make them more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation. An established form of laryngeal cancer treatment, local hyperthermia follows the basic principle that if a temperature of 106ºF can be obtained for one hour within a cancerous laryngeal tumor, it will destroy the cancerous cells. Primary malignant laryngeal tumors have poor blood circulation, which makes them especially sensitive to high temperatures.
Hyperthermia can be used to help increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biotherapy/immunotherapy. Local hyperthermia can be administered as a laryngeal cancer treatment in a variety of different ways. Cancerous laryngeal tissue may be heated externally with high-frequency waves aimed at a tumor from a device outside the body. To heat cancerous tissue internally, one of several types of sterile probes may be used. These include thin, heated wires; hollow tubes filled with warm water; implanted microwave antennae; and, radiofrequency electrodes.
The Sonotherm 1000 uses ultrasound to administer local hyperthermia to solid laryngeal tumors. This method of laryngeal cancer treatment applies ultra-high-frequency sound waves to generate heat within the tumor. Ultrasound is more easily focused than other energy modalities. It can be applied to tumors located from the skin to 8 centimeters within the body (which is useful for targeting hard-to-reach laryngeal tumors). Ultrasound also doesn't require the use of radio-wave shielding devices to protect medical personnel during laryngeal cancer treatment.
Hyperthermia perfusion is another approach offered at CTCA for this type of laryngeal cancer treatment. Hyperthermia perfusion uses a warmed solution containing anticancer drugs to bathe, or pass through the blood vessels of the larynx. Some of your blood is removed, heated and then pumped (perfused) into the region that is to be heated internally.
Usually, hyperthermia does not cause marked increase in radiation side effects. Heat applied directly to the skin, however, can cause discomfort or even significant local pain in about half the people treated with this procedure. It can also cause blisters, which generally heal rapidly (depending on the health of the patient’s skin). Less commonly, it can cause burns.
Next Topic: Complementary/Alternative Laryngeal Cancer Treatments
