On the use of microwave based thermal monitoring in hyperthermia

Clinical results show that microwave based hyperthermia can dramatically improve the treatment outcome if combined with radiation and chemo therapy. During hyperthermia treatment it is necessary to monitor the heating in order to ensure that therapeutic temperatures are reached in the tumour, as well as to monitor hot-spots in non-tumour areas. Microwave imaging technology has the potential to be sensitive to changes in the dielectric tissue parameters caused by the hyperthermia heating. In this paper we discuss the feasibility for a combined heating / temperature monitoring system based entirely on microwave technology.