[Intracavitary 500KHZ hyperthermia treatment of patients with endometrial and cervical cancer--preliminary clinical and pathological results].

Therapeutic effectiveness of elevated temperature is a well known issue. However raising the temperature inside the tumor sparing concurrently surrounding healthy tissue is not an easy task. Intracavitary, radiofrequency hyperthermia in uterine tumor cases allows to obtain elevated temperature in a simple, effective and safe way. Hyperthermic procedure was performed in 30 patients with cervical and endometrial cancer. In 10 cases it was a part of standard radiotherapy, in 20 hyperthermia proceeded radical surgery. A computer--controlled 300W amplifier and generator was used. Energy was transmitted via a modified Fletcher--type applicator. One or two 45-60 minute lasting sessions, with temperature reaching 46-49 degrees C were performed in each case. No severe side effects were seen. In a group where surgery was performed a characteristic temperature-induced changes were observed on tissue and cellular level. Higher number of performed procedures will be a base for randomized trials and, in the future enables us to incorporate hyperthermia into standard radiotherapy.