Technology & treatment

Tumour hyperthermia

Principle & mechanism

Hyperthermia uses controlled tissue heating. Regional heating as an adjunct differs from ablation intended to destroy a local target.

What informs suitability

Clarify goals, heated area, device, evidence for the indication, and combination with primary care. This approach is not used in every centre or case.

Typical pathway

A team defines heating area and method, monitors temperature and comfort, and coordinates other treatments where appropriate. Benefits need measurable goals.

Risks & evidence limits

Burns, pain, or tissue injury can occur. General claims about immunity or treating all cancers cannot replace evidence review and primary treatment.

Watch first. Understand more easily.

Original BKC explainers

24 seconds · silent text video

Radiation, ablation, surgery: what differs?

Read the video transcript

Radiation targets a planned area. CyberKnife uses X-rays. It is not surgery with a blade.
Ablation acts on a local target. RFA uses heat from radiofrequency energy. Risks and target location need assessment.
Surgery describes a procedure. Procedure, access approach, and recovery are three different questions.
Start with the care goal. Discuss options and combinations with a doctor, based on diagnosis and patient condition.

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Reading sources

Prepared by BKC editorial, 22 October 2026. General education, not a diagnosis or personal treatment selection. A topic listing does not establish availability at a particular hospital.

Connect the concepts

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Specialties & teams

Supportive and palliative care

Specialties & teams Understand the topic →

Technology & treatment

TCM and complementary care

Technology & treatment Understand the topic →

SEE THEM SIDE BY SIDE

Different names. Understand how they work.

Compare principles, assessment, and evidence limits. A reading tool, not a way to select your treatment.

Concept diagram: Tumour hyperthermia — Tumour hyperthermia

Concept diagram: Radiofrequency ablation / RFA — Radiofrequency ablation / RFA

Read principles, assessment, and risks

Concept comparison, without rankings or recommendations.
Aspect	Tumour hyperthermia	Radiofrequency ablation / RFA
How it works	Hyperthermia uses controlled tissue heating. Regional heating as an adjunct differs from ablation intended to destroy a local target.	RFA uses radiofrequency energy through an electrode to heat target tissue. It differs from radiotherapy, which uses ionising radiation.
What is assessed	Clarify goals, heated area, device, evidence for the indication, and combination with primary care. This approach is not used in every centre or case.	Lesion size and position, nearby vessels, access, and organ safety determine planning. Some locations or shapes limit local treatment.
Risks & limits	Burns, pain, or tissue injury can occur. General claims about immunity or treating all cancers cannot replace evidence review and primary treatment.	Risks include pain, bleeding, infection, and thermal injury near the target. Local ablation does not automatically treat spread elsewhere.

Tumour hyperthermia Radiofrequency ablation / RFA

Schematics are conceptual. Technologies with different purposes are not necessarily alternatives. Open each topic for its sources and context.

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Doctors assess options from the case, beyond a technology name alone.

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