Combined treatment of 8 MHz radiofrequency hyperthermia and irradiation in a patient with mediastinal metastases of renal cancer

摘要

A combined therapy of irradiation and 8 MHz radiofrequency hyperthermia using the Thermotron-RF Model 8 was performed on a patient with mediastinal metastasis of renal cancer. The patient was a 74-year-old male, who received left transperitoneal nephrectomy for left renal tumor in December, 1982. Histology report indicated clear cell carcinoma of the kidney. He noticed puffy face and dyspnea in April, 1984. A CT scan showed a mediastinal tumor 57 X 43 X 120 mm in size and right pleural effusion. Aspiration biopsies revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the mediastinal lymph nodes. The combined therapy of irradiation and 8 MHz radiofrequency hyperthermia was started in July, 1984. He was irradiated with daily 2.0 Gy, 5 times a week and was heated twice a week within one hour after each irradiation, totally 50 Gy of irradiation and 14 sessions of hyperthermia. After the treatment, 69% tumor regression and disappearance of pleural effusion were obtained. The combined therapy with 28.8 Gy of irradiation and 7 sessions of hyperthermia was added for the regrowth of the tumor in February, 1985. A 30% of tumor regression was achieved, however, there was no improvement of the dyspnea or pleural effusion. He died on April 8, 1985.