Hyperthermia Treatment and Temperature Control of the Breast Cancer Therapy Applying Ultrasound Induced Heating

Abstract

High intensity ultrasound has great potential in noninvasive treatment of deep-seated tumors. In a hyperthermia treatment the main goal is to elevate tumor temperature to a cytotoxic level without overheating the intervening healthy tissues. To produce deep-seated lesions using ultrasound requires high power and intensity levels at focal zone. Conventionally, appropriate transducers are used which require suitable apertures for ultrasound hyperthermia. Such transducers result in strong offfocus maxima, where the resulting hot spots can destroy tumors. 

This paper describes a new approach in transducer design and acoustic field calculation and consequently temperature tracking during a hyperthermia treatment of breast tumors. For this purpose the linear acoustic pressure equation is used to calculate the transmitted energy in the focal zone. As the vibration of tissue causes the increase of the temperature inside the tissue and destruction of tumor happens, Pennes’ Bio-heat Transfer equation is used for temperature estimation during the treatment. The numerical Finite Element Method is applied to do a precise mathematical calculation.  The results of calculations and also simulation outcomes have been mentioned in the text.