Laserthermia: a computer-controlled contact Nd:YAG system for interstitial local hyperthermia.

Contact Nd:YAG laser surgery is assuming a role of greater importance in endoscopic and open surgery, allowing coagulation, cutting, and vaporization with greater precision and safety. A synthetic sapphire probe allows a wider angle of irradiation and diffusion of low power laser energy (less than 5 W) using an interstitial technique for producing local hyperthermia. Sensors placed directly into surrounding tissue or tumor continuously monitor temperature, and a pertinent computer program produces a controlled and stable temperature (e.g., 42 degrees C) over a period of time (e.g., 20-40 min). The Laserthermia system (Surgical Laser Technologies, Inc., Malvern, PA), using the Nd:YAG laser, offers many advantages in the experimental and clinical treatment of carcinoma by local interstitial hyperthermia.