Effect Of Whole-Body Hyperthermia On The Development Of Peritumoral Brain Edema

The effect of whole-body hyperthermia on the development of peritumoral brain oedema and intracranial pressure was studied in cats with intracerebral transplanted tumour. Whole-body hyperthermia was achieved by means of extracorporeal circulation. The temperature within die brain tumour tissue was increased to 41.8+/-0.15-degrees-C (mean+/-SD) for 2 h. Measurements of brain water content revealed that hyperthermia worsened the degree of peritumoral brain oedema. Microscopical observation demonstrated that extravasation of horseradish peroxidase, indicating disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the oedematous region, was more severe in animals exposed to hyperthermia than in non-treated animals. Intracranial pressure significantly increased from 13.5+/-5.26 mmHg to 25.8+/-6.16 mmHg (p<0.05) during hyperthermia, although it was controlled at 20.7+/-2.60 mmHg by continuous infusion of glycerol. The results suggest that whole-body hyperthermia acting on a brain-bearing tumour caused an increase in intracranial pressure due to worsening of the degree of peritumoral vasogenic type of brain oedema. We emphasize that whole-body hyperthermia may be performed with careful monitoring of intracranial pressure for patients who have brain tumour.