Mathematical methods for treatment planning in deep regional hyperthermia

Abstract

Techniques are described which accelerate the rerunning of programs for each new set of input parameters in the computer simulation for treatment planning in deep regional hyperthermia cancer therapy using the Sigma 60 applicator. This is done by separating the problem into responses by individual quadrants and by using an impulse response to get multiple frequencies per run. The implementation of these techniques using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is described. The accuracy is tested against three-dimensional measurements made in a homogeneous phantom, and the results are presented. The result is a method capable of planning an optimum treatment for deep regional hyperthermia.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>