Interstitial laser hyperthermia for colorectal liver metastases: The effect of thermal sensitization and the use of a cylindrical diffuser tip on tumor necrosis

Abstract

Objective: Our aim in this study was to investigate the characteristics of a diffuser-tipped optical fiber in producing tumor necrosis, compared to a standard bare-tipped fiber. The potential synergistic effect between thermal sensitization by metronidazole and interstitial laser hyperthermia (ILH)-induced tumor necrosis is also evaluated. Background Data: ILH is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. One of the major limitations is the size of tissue necrosis achieved by a single optical fiber. Use of cylindrical diffuser-tipped fibers and thermal sensitization of tumor cells by metronidazole may increase the size of tumor necrosis achieved by a sin..