THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY OF UTERINE TISSUE IN-VITRO

Thermotherapy of the uterus has emerged as an alternative to hysterect omy in the treatment of menorrhagia, from whence it follows that the t hermal properties of uterine tissue have become of importance. This st udy presents measurements of the thermal conductivity and the water co ntent of uterine tissue in vitro. A steady-state thermal conductivity apparatus, based on the comparison of test samples with a material wit h known thermal conductivity, is described. Measurements were conducte d on tissue samples from eleven patients, directly after hysterectomy. Samples with and without endometrium, as well as coagulated samples, were examined. The thermal conductivity of myometrial tissue was found to be 0.536 +/- 0.012 W m(-1) K-1 (mean +/- 1 SD) and the correspondi ng water content was 81.2 +/- 1.5% (mean +/- 1 SD). Measurements on sa mples with both endometrium and myometrium showed similar thermal cond uctivity (0.542 +/- 0.008 W m(-1) K-1, mean +/- 1 SD) and water conten t (81.6 +/- 0.7%, mean +/- 1 SD). It was also indicated that coagulati on causes dehydration, resulting in a lower thermal conductivity.