Tumor hyperthermia therapy, hyperthermia therapy method introduction

We know that tumors are one of the most harmful diseases to the human body. People with tumors often have their immune systems attacked and devoured, and eventually their defense systems collapse. Currently, there are some methods for treating tumors in clinical medicine. The following is a treatment method called "thermal therapy".

1: Hyperthermia therapy is a method of treating tumors by increasing body temperature or heating the area to change the environment of tumor cells and cause them to denature and die. Hyperthermia therapy is usually used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to achieve a synergistic effect.

2: Medical experts have found that when the body temperature rises, the blood vessels of normal human tissues dilate, blood flow accelerates, and heat dissipates faster. Due to this regulatory function of the body, when the body temperature rises, even when the body temperature reaches 41.5-43℃, the tissue damage is not serious and can be repaired.

3: However, this is not the case with tumor tissue. The blood vessels in the tumor are abnormal, chaotic and twisted, and easily deformed by pressure, forming thrombi or emboli. In addition, the blood vessels in the tumor are mostly composed of a single layer of cells, which are fragile and easy to break. Since these new blood vessels are underdeveloped and malformed blood vessels, they lose their self-regulation function after being heated, and the veins cannot speed up the return flow. The local blood in the tumor is stagnant, and the blood flow is only 1% to 15% of that in normal tissues, making it difficult for the tumor tissue to dissipate heat and the temperature rises. The temperature of malignant tumor tissue is often 8 to 10°C higher than that of adjacent normal tissues.

4: Similarly, if the temperature of normal tissue rises to 40°C, the temperature inside the tumor can rise to about 48°C, which is high enough to kill tumor cells while leaving normal tissues unharmed. Generally speaking, the larger the tumor, the lower the blood flow, and the better the thermal treatment effect.

5: Hyperthermia is divided into two categories: whole body hyperthermia and local hyperthermia. Whole body hyperthermia can be achieved by warming the blood through extracorporeal circulation.

6: Local hyperthermia can be used to heat the tumor area locally by using hot water bath, ultrasound, magnetic induction, infrared and microwave. Local hyperthermia is simple, has few side effects and is easily accepted by patients. In recent years, microwave therapy has received widespread attention in clinical practice.

Protein is an important component, so if the whole body is heated to 60℃ for 30 minutes, the protein will coagulate, and the body will coagulate like a boiled egg. In severe cases, death will eventually occur. Even 45℃ will cause heat accumulation (called stagnant heat), and some parts may exceed 60℃, showing a low-grade fever burn state, which is dangerous. Of course, the equipment is equipped with a safety device, so there will be no such situation as stagnant heat, so there is no need to worry.