Orientated thermotherapy of ferromagnetic thermoseed in hepatic tumors

AIM To study the thermotherapeutic effects of implanted ferromagnetic thermoseeds in high frequency electromagnetic field in hepatic tumors. METHODS The ferromagnetic thermoseeds made of nickel-copper alloy, which has a lower Curie temperature, were implanted into hepatic tumors of mice. The high frequency electromagnetic field was then applied in vitro to make the ferromagnetic thermoseeds produce the hyperthermia. Before and after thermotherapy, the tumor size, pathologic alteration and animal survival period were assessed. RESULTS The temperature at the central area of the tumor could be heated up to 50 degrees C. Most of tumors in mice disappeared with a large amount of tumor necrosis. The survival period of mice was prolonged. CONCLUSION This thermotherapy is beneficial to directional selection and temperature control for treatment of hepatic tumors.