Dielectric properties of Co-gamma-irradiated and microwave-heated rat tumour and skin measured in vivo between 0.2 and 2.4 GHz.

The dielectric properties of a rat tumour (rhabdomyosarcoma R1H), skin and muscle were measured in vivo with an open-ended coaxial line and a computer-controlled system based on a network analyser. The permittivity of the tumour R1H and of the normal tissues in anaesthetised rats was determined at frequencies between 0.2 and 2.4 GHz. No significant differences were observed either between rat tumour and muscle or between normal and 15 Gy irradiated rat tumour and skin. However, after a hyperthermia treatment at 43 degrees C for 60 min the dielectric properties, especially of the rat skin, changed due to the hyperthermic induced oedema which is related to an increase in tissue water content. The process of the oedema modifies the dielectric properties of the skin to a higher degree than those of the tumour.