HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sicard-Rosenbaum, L. Articles by Eckhaus, M. A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sicard-Rosenbaum, L. Articles by Eckhaus, M. A Related Collections Physical Agents/Modalities Cancer Related Articles Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Effects of Continuous Therapeutic Ultrasound on Growth and Metastasis of Subcutaneous Murine Tumors

L Sicard-Rosenbaum, PT, OCS, was Senior Staff Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Section, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, 10/6S-235, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, when this study was conducted.
D Lord, PT, is Physical Therapist, Wilson Health Care Center, Gaithersburg, MD 20852.
JV Danoff, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059.
AK Thom, MD, is Clinical Associate, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.
MA Eckhaus, VMD, is Pathology Unit Chief, Laboratory Sciences Section, Scientific Services Branch, Veterinarian Resources Program, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.

Background and Purpose. The use of therapeutic ultrasound (US) in the presence of malignant neoplasms has been contraindicated in physical therapy practice despite a lack of convincing scientific evidence. Some studies have shown that high levels of US, which increase tissue temperatures greater than 42°C, can kill tumors. We sought to determine whether the application of continuous therapeutic US would alter the growth or metastasis of methylcholanthrene-induced solid tumors in mice. Subjects. Seventy-one female C57BL/6 mice, age 6 to 8 weeks, received subcutaneous injections of 5x10⁵ tumor cells. Methods. When tumors grew to 0.5 cm in diameter, the mice were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=34) or an experimental group (n=37). The experimental group received 10 treatments over a 2-week period of 3-MHz continuous US at 1.0 W/cm² for 5 minutes, using a 05-cm² sound head directly over the tumor. The control group received the same handling except for the US treatment. Tumor dimensions were measured on days 1 (baseline), 7 (midtreatment), and 14 (preexcision and postexcision). Tumors were weighed after excision, and the mice were evaluated by necropsy and histopathology of regional lymph nodes. Results. All tumors grew larger over time, but final tumor volume and weight were larger in the experimental group (789 mm³ and 0.932g) than in the control group (395 mm³ and 0.506g). No significant difference existed in the number of metastatic lymph nodes between groups. Conclusion and Discussion. Continuous therapeutic US increased the volume and weight of subcutaneous murine tumors in mice. We urge caution in the use of continuous therapeutic US in the areas of tumors or suspected tumors.

Key Words: Methylcholanthrene • Neoplasm • Tumor • Ultrasound

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Articles

Invited Commentary

Brian V Reed
Physical Therapy 1995 75: 11-12. [Abstract] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. J Robertson and K. G Baker A Review of Therapeutic Ultrasound: Effectiveness Studies Physical Therapy, July 1, 2001; 81(7): 1339 - 1350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Harris, M. R. Hugi, I. A. Olivotto, and M. Levine Clinical practice guidelines for the care and treatment of breast cancer: 11. Lymphedema Can. Med. Assoc. J., January 1, 2001; 164(2): 191 - 199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]