Nanoparticles Enhanced Hyperthermia - Intracellular Delivery: Fundamentals and Applications - page 589

Table 4 Comparison among various heating methods for tumor hyperthermia
Heating source

Principle Advantages Disadvantages Sphere of action

RF Electrothermal effect Wide action scope and depth;

relatively simple equipment;
require no shielded rooms;
easy temperature measure

Uneven heat distribution;
subcutaneous fat
overheating

Large shallow tumor; deep tumors
for abdomen, pelvis, chest and
limbs; interstitial heating for
large tumors, such as brain,
neck, liver and breast

MW Magnetocaloric effect High temperature; no fat

overheating; relatively safe

Larger muscle attenuation
coefficient; limited
penetration depth; difficult
temperature measure

Superficial tumor for breast, head
and neck, limbs; intraluminal
heating for esophagus, cervix,
rectum, nasopharynx, urethra,
prostate; interstitial heating
for brain

Laser (IR and visible
light)

Absorb light energy Less harm to the human body;

enter into the body cavity
with the help of endoscope

Small scope, depth is not
enough

Small and superficial tumor ;
possibility of carbonization at
local tissue

Ultrasound Vibration and friction No fat overheating; easy

temperature measure;
better penetration and focus
performance

Limited by air cavity,
significant pain in the
interface between soft
tissue and bone

Superficial and deep tumor, such
as soft tissue tumor, pelvic
tumor, brain tumor

Electrothermal
needle/ high
temperature
fluids

Heat conduction Safe heating source; simple

equipment and cheap; no
dependence on dielectric
and conductivity constant

Small action scope for single
heating source

Superficial and deep tumor

Thermochemistry Exothermic chemical

reaction

Simple and cheap; high heat
energy

Safety is under study Embryonic stage