Combination of surgery, irradiation, and hyperthermia in treatment of recurrences of malignant tumors.

Management of recurrent tumors after initial treatment by surgery, radiotherapy, and sometimes chemotherapy is a formidable challenge. Proximity of tumor to critical organs (e.g., carotid artery in recurrent head and neck tumors) often makes radical surgery impossible. Prior definitive course of radiation therapy precludes delivering a second radical course of irradiation. In the Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, we have used combined postoperative hyperthermia and modest dose radiotherapy to treat 23 patients with recurrent tumors and postoperative residual disease. Generally, 3200 to 4000 cGy was delivered in eight to ten fractions in 4 to 5 weeks, in combination with eight to ten sessions of minimum tumor heating to 42.5 degrees to 43 degrees C for 60 minutes, twice a week as stated in the results. Follow-up period was one to 5+ years. Of the 23 patients treated, only three failed within the treatment volume.