Search
thermotherapy
The use of heat to treat a disease or disorder.
Application of heat may be used to:
1) promote circulation in peripheral vascular disease or to relax tense muscles - the enhance local metabolism may offer pain relief
2) apply a sufficient amount of heat to induce necrosis of a precisely defined area of tissue
Indications: (applications of thermotherapy)
1) joint stiffness or muscle stiffness
- to improve range of motion
2) subacute or chronic phases of inflammatory disorders
3) microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hypertrophy
- TransUrethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT)
- TransUrethral Needle Ablation (TUNA)
4) breast cancer, destrution of cells in the surgical margins
5) choroidal neovascularization
Complications:
1) worsening of acute inflammation
2) thermal injury
Specific
breast thermotherapy
choroidal thermotherapy
prostate thermotherapy
General
clinical procedure
References
- The Therapeutic Application of Heat - Thermotherapy
http://www.uni-patch.com/PDF/Thermotherapy.pdf
- eMedicine - Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy of the
Prostate
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3070.htm
- FDA Public Health Notification: Serious Injuries from
Microwave Thermotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Oct 11, 2000
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/bph.pdf