Some aspects of quality management in deep regional hyperthermia

Abstract

The hyperthermia effect is based on its thermal influence on tumours. Therefore a controlled heating of the tumours must be achieved. In order to guarantee this, two points must be fulfilled at least: First, the hyperthermia equipment must have the necessary power and steering capability. Second, the distribution of the ‘hyperthermic drug’, the heat, has to be measured and controlled over the whole treatment time. To reach this aim both a sophisticated technique and a staff trained in hyperthermia are required. In treating patients such as those with cervical cancer, the volume to be exposed and the dosage must be clarified. This means that very special technical and medical conditions must be fulfilled in hyperthermia. To reach and maintain a certain level of quality, hyperthermia is embedded in a framework of procedures. These procedures are defined in the modules of quality management. Therefore quality management must contain specific guidelines for each application, i.e. coordinated standards have to be defined. When adapting these standards in hyperthermia, comparable and comprehensible results of the treatment are guaranteed. Furthermore, an analysis of the treatments under a scientific point of view will be possible and finally result in improvements of this method.