Below are common terms that appear throughout hyperthermia-related content, explained in plain language to help readers unfamiliar with medical terminology understand the rest of this Knowledge Center.
| Term | Plain-language explanation |
|---|---|
| Hyperthermia | A medical procedure that raises the temperature of a specific body area or the whole body slightly above normal — see What Is Hyperthermia? |
| Local Hyperthermia | Heating a small area of the body or a specific tumor site |
| Regional Hyperthermia | Heating a larger body area (such as an organ or limb) |
| Whole-Body Hyperthermia | Raising the temperature of the entire body into the treatment range |
| Adjunct / Adjuvant Therapy | A treatment used alongside a main standard treatment (such as radiation or chemotherapy), not as a replacement |
| Standard Treatment | Currently accepted, widely validated main treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy |
| Perfusion | A technique that circulates blood or drug fluid through a specific body area, used in some regional hyperthermia methods |
| Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) | A local hyperthermia technique that uses radiofrequency energy to heat and destroy tissue |
| Contraindication | A reason a treatment or medical device is not recommended under specific circumstances |
| Clinical Trial | A formal study conducted to verify a treatment’s safety and effectiveness |
| Approved Indication | The specific treatment scope for which a competent authority (such as Taiwan’s TFDA) has approved a medical device or drug |
| TFDA | Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, responsible for pre-market review and approval of medical devices |
What is this glossary for?
This glossary is intended only as an aid to understanding. It does not constitute medical advice and is not an official regulatory or medical terminology source. If you have further questions about a specific term, consult your care team or see the Further Reading page for public authoritative resources.
What's the difference between "adjunct therapy" and "replacement therapy"?
Adjunct therapy refers to a treatment used alongside standard treatment (such as radiation or chemotherapy) to work together with the main treatment. Replacement therapy refers to a treatment intended to substitute for standard treatment. Based on current public educational materials, hyperthermia is positioned as an adjunct therapy, not a replacement for standard treatment.
Last updated: 2026-08-16 | Sources: Common terminology compiled from public educational materials by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and American Cancer Society (ACS). If content differs from the latest research, the latest publicly available information takes precedence — please also consult your care team.