Method for treating benign and malignant tumors utilizing radio frequency, electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A method of treating tumors, both benign and malignant, such as carcinoma, sarcoma, cysts and avascular lesions, in animals, such as humans, by radio frequency heating at the location of the tumor in the host with intensity and duration sufficient to cause necrosis of the tumor tissue. Substantial damage to the surrounding normal tissue is avoided, as the surrounding normal tissue is cooled by blood flow which carries the heat away to dissipate such heat in those portions of the body not being subjected to heating.

I claim: .[.1. A method of treating a naturally occurring tumor in a human which comprises placing the portion of the body of the human in which the tumor is located in a radio frequency electromagnetic field thereby to heat the tumor tissue in said portion of said body by absorption of energy from said radio frequency electromagnetic field for a period of time and with intensity sufficient to cause necrosis of said tumor, but insufficient to cause significant damage to the adjacent normal tissue in 
     
        said field..]. 2. The method of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.in which the body portion is placed in a radio frequency field by positioning insulated, conductive metal plates in intimate contact with the portion of the body containing the tumor such that the tumor lies between the conductive metal plates, and applying radio frequency electrical power 
     
     
        across said plates. 3. The method according to claim 2 in which the power level of radio frequency electrical power applied across said conductive metal plates is between 50 and 250 watts, in which the time of application is between 10 and 20 minutes and in which said plates are from 2 to 4 
     
     
        inches in diameter. 4. The method according to claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.in which the temperature of said tumor tissue is raised above 46° C. and in which the temperature of the .Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.normal tissue .[.adjacent the tumor.]. is kept below 40° C. .Iadd.5. A method of treating a naturally occurring tumor in a human which comprises placing a portion of the body of the human in which the tumor is located in a radio frequency electromagnetic field ranging from 100 kilohertz to 200 megahertz, heating the tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue in said portion of said body by absorption of energy from said radio frequency electromagnetic field for a period of time and with intensity sufficient to heat said tumor tissue at least 6° C. above the temperature of the adjacent normal tissue to cause necrosis of said tumor tissue, but insufficient to heat said adjacent normal tissue above 40° C. to cause significant damage to the adjacent normal tissue. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said tumor tissue is heated in a range of 6° C. to 10° C. above the temperature of the adjacent normal tissue. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said radio frequency electromagnetic field is 
     
     
        13.56 megahertz. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8.  A method of treating a naturally occurring tumor in a human comprising; placing a portion of the body of the human in which the tumor is located in a radio frequency electromagnetic field ranging in frequency from 100 kilohertz to 200 megahertz, heating the tumor tissue in said portion of said body by absorption of energy from said radio frequency electromagnetic field for a period of time and with intensity sufficient to cause necrosis of said tumor, but insufficient to cause significant damage to the adjacent normal 
     
     
        tissue in said field. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9.  A method of treating a naturally occurring tumor in a human comprising: placing a portion of the body of the human in which the tumor is located in a radio frequency electromagnetic field ranging in frequency from 100 kilohertz to less than 1000 megahertz, heating the tumor tissue in said portion of said body by absorption of energy from said radio frequency electromagnetic field for a period of time and with intensity sufficient to cause necrosis of said tumor, but insufficient to cause significant damage to the adjacent normal tissue in said field. .Iaddend.