Temperature distribution in tissues subjected to local hyperthermia by RF induction heating.

We have used a finite difference formulation of the bio-heat transfer equation to predict temperature distributions in and around a non-uniformly perfused volume located in layered tissue. Using available data on blood flow in experimental tumours we have shown that techniques capable of highly localized heating are required to treat small, well perfused tumours effectively. However, the r.f. technique considered here produces acceptable temperature distributions in larger tumours with poorly perfused centres. Skin cooling improves the effective penetration of the hyperthermal treatment and may improve the uniformity of heating. However, the considerable heat flux through superficial tissues associated with chilled water cooling can produce large temperature gradients in such regions.