Hyperthermia therapy: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:23, 16 February 2025

A treatment method using heat to treat cancer and other conditions

Hyperthermia therapy is a type of medical treatment in which body tissue is exposed to higher temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs. This therapy is used in conjunction with other forms of cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Mechanism of Action[edit]

Hyperthermia therapy works by raising the temperature of the tumor tissue to between 40°C and 45°C (104°F to 113°F). At these temperatures, cancer cells become more susceptible to damage from radiation and chemotherapy. The heat can also directly kill cancer cells by denaturing proteins and damaging cellular structures.

Types of Hyperthermia Therapy[edit]

There are several types of hyperthermia therapy, each targeting different areas of the body:

Local Hyperthermia[edit]

Local hyperthermia involves applying heat to a small area, such as a tumor. This can be done using various techniques, including:

Regional Hyperthermia[edit]

Regional hyperthermia is used to treat larger areas of tissue, such as an organ or limb. Techniques include:

Whole-body Hyperthermia[edit]

Whole-body hyperthermia is used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body. This involves raising the body temperature to 39°C to 41°C (102°F to 106°F) using thermal chambers or hot water blankets.

Applications in Cancer Treatment[edit]

Hyperthermia therapy is primarily used in the treatment of cancer. It is often combined with other treatments to enhance their effectiveness. Some cancers that may be treated with hyperthermia include:

Advantages and Limitations[edit]

Hyperthermia therapy offers several advantages, such as enhancing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy and potentially reducing the size of tumors. However, it also has limitations, including:

Difficulty in precisely controlling temperature
Potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue
Limited availability of specialized equipment

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Hyperthermia therapy''' is a type of [[medical treatment]] where body tissue is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill [[cancer]] cells. It is usually used with other forms of [[cancer treatment]], such as [[radiation therapy]] and [[chemotherapy]].
+{{Short description|A treatment method using heat to treat cancer and other conditions}}
-== Overview ==
+[[File:Hyperthemia_machine.jpg|thumb|right|A hyperthermia machine used in treatment]]
-Hyperthermia therapy is based on the principle that cancer cells are more susceptible to damage by heat than normal cells. The heat can be applied locally to the tumor, regionally, or throughout the whole body. The temperature of the treatment can range from 104°F to 113°F.
+'''Hyperthermia therapy''' is a type of medical treatment in which body tissue is exposed to higher temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs. This therapy is used in conjunction with other forms of cancer treatment, such as [[radiation therapy]] and [[chemotherapy]].
-== Types of Hyperthermia Therapy ==
+==Mechanism of Action==
+Hyperthermia therapy works by raising the temperature of the tumor tissue to between 40°C and 45°C (104°F to 113°F). At these temperatures, cancer cells become more susceptible to damage from radiation and chemotherapy. The heat can also directly kill cancer cells by denaturing proteins and damaging cellular structures.
-There are several types of hyperthermia therapy, including:
+==Types of Hyperthermia Therapy==
+There are several types of hyperthermia therapy, each targeting different areas of the body:
-* '''Local hyperthermia''': In this method, heat is applied to a small area, like a tumor, using various techniques that can deliver energy to heat the tumor. These techniques include microwave, radiofrequency, and ultrasound.
+===Local Hyperthermia===
+Local hyperthermia involves applying heat to a small area, such as a tumor. This can be done using various techniques, including:
+* [[Microwave therapy]]
+* [[Radiofrequency ablation]]
+* [[Ultrasound therapy]]
-* '''Regional hyperthermia''': In regional hyperthermia, heat is applied to large areas of the body, such as an organ, a limb, or a body cavity. This can be done using external applicators, or by circulating heated fluids directly in the region of the body.
+===Regional Hyperthermia===
+Regional hyperthermia is used to treat larger areas of tissue, such as an organ or limb. Techniques include:
+* [[Perfusion]]
+* [[Deep tissue heating]]
-* '''Whole-body hyperthermia''': This method is used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body. This can be done using several techniques, such as thermal chambers (similar to large incubators) or heated blankets.
+===Whole-body Hyperthermia===
+Whole-body hyperthermia is used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body. This involves raising the body temperature to 39°C to 41°C (102°F to 106°F) using thermal chambers or hot water blankets.
-== Side Effects ==
+==Applications in Cancer Treatment==
+Hyperthermia therapy is primarily used in the treatment of cancer. It is often combined with other treatments to enhance their effectiveness. Some cancers that may be treated with hyperthermia include:
+* [[Breast cancer]]
+* [[Cervical cancer]]
+* [[Lung cancer]]
+* [[Melanoma]]
-The side effects of hyperthermia therapy can include burns, blisters, discomfort, and pain. In rare cases, more serious side effects such as heart and vascular disorders can occur.
+==Advantages and Limitations==
+Hyperthermia therapy offers several advantages, such as enhancing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy and potentially reducing the size of tumors. However, it also has limitations, including:
-== Research and Effectiveness ==
+* Difficulty in precisely controlling temperature
+* Potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue
-Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. Many studies have shown a significant reduction in tumor size when hyperthermia therapy is combined with other treatments.
+* Limited availability of specialized equipment
-== See Also ==
+==Related pages==
 * [[Cancer treatment]]
 * [[Radiation therapy]]
 * [[Chemotherapy]]
+* [[Oncology]]
-== References ==
-<references />
 [[Category:Medical treatments]]
 [[Category:Cancer treatments]]
-[[Category:Hyperthermia therapy]]
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-{{dictionary-stub1}}