Induced hyperthermia in brain tissue in vivo.

Abstract

Concerning hypothermia treatment, knowledge of time-temperature and of temperature distributions within tumor volumes is essential in order to obtain the maximal therapeutic effect. New techniques are being developed to overcome these difficulties. Two different heat sources, a contact Nd:YAG laser system and an automatically controlled high-frequency current system were investigated on 15 rabbits. Changes of the intracerebral temperature were registered at 4 different distances from the energy source. The intracerebral temperature was increased to 42.5 degrees C at a distance of 5 mm to the heat source and maintained at this level for a period of 60 min. The contact Nd:YAG laser system reached 42.5 degrees C at 3 W of output power. Using higher laser output power, brain tissue herniation (brain edema) through the burrhole was observed. The automatically controlled high-frequency current system reached 42.5 degrees C at 18.75 W of output current. A very small herniation of brain tissue could be observed using higher output current. Both heat sources presented an exponential decrease of the temperature profile depending on the distance. The tissue heat clearance was compensated for by intermittent laser or high-frequency current application. Both systems proved efficient for inducing hyperthermia as needed for antitumoral therapy.