Treatment of malignant glioma using hyperthermia

Thirty pathologically diagnosed patients with grade III–IV primary or recurrent malignant glioma(tumor diameter 3–7 cm)were randomly divided into two groups.The control group underwent conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy.In the hyperthermia group,primary cases received hyperthermia treatment,and patients with recurrent tumors were treated with hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Hyperthermia treatment was administered using a13.56-MHz radio frequency hyperthermia device.Electrodes were inserted into the tumor with the aid of a CT-guided stereotactic apparatus and heat was applied for 1 hour.During 3 months after hyperthermia,patients were evaluated with head CT or MRI every month.Gliomas in the hyperthermia group exhibited growth retardation or growth termination.Necrosis was evident in 80%of the heated tumor tissue and there was a decrease in tumor diameter.Our findings indicate that radio frequency hyperthermia has a beneficial effect in the treatment of malignant glioma.