Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2014. Vol. 59. No. 4. P. 53-57
RADIATION THERAPY
O.K. Kurpeshev, V.V. Pasov, A.K. Kurpesheva
Treatment of Late Radiation Damage Using Local Radio-Frequency Hyperthermia
Medical Radiological Research Center, Obninsk, Russia. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Local hyperthermia was delivered to 103 patients with late radiation-induced tissue and organs injury. The treatment consisted of 6–12 sessions with 1–2 day interval between them (3–5 times a week). Repeated local hyperthermia cycles were delivered in 3–12 months. Outcome of treatment for fibrosis of skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue was assessed by changing skin pigmentation and fibrotic tissue density. In patients with fibrosis of pelvic organs the outcome was assessed by clearance rate of contrast agent from the urinary tract. Treatment effects for pulmonary fibrosis and lymphedema were assessed by the dynamics of pulmonary function and change in an extremity circumference, respectively.
The treatment resulted in significant (on average, 1.7-fold) reduction of fibrosis foci density in soft tissue examined by palpation and by ultrasound densitometry. In patients, who underwent Dimexide applications, the density of fibrotic tissue reduced by 1.2- fold. In patients with pulmonary fibrosis the treatment resulted in the increase in pulmonary ventilation by 5 % to 30 %, as compared to the function prior to the treatment. Local hyperthermia treatment for the late radiation-induced cystitis resulted in attenuation of pelvic pain (in the bladder) and the rate of uresiesthesia. Patients, who underwent the treatment for pelvic fibrosis combined with ureterostenosis, improvement of the urine passage was found. In one third of patients with edema of extremities its circumference reduced by more than 30 % after the treatment, in half of patients the reduction was less than 30 %.
Key words: late radiation damage, treatment, radio-frequency hyperthermia