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Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective minimally invasive therapy for treating liver cancers, among various local cancer treatments. Computational studies are crucial in simulating MWA, offering insights that may be unreachable from experimental methods. This study investigated the complex relationships between blood perfusion rate and metabolic heat concerning MWA outcomes. 3D patient-specific finite element models are employed, shedding light on the interplay of these parameters and their impact on the efficacy of MWA procedures. Image data from five patients treated with MWA are chosen, creating detailed 3D models of the liver, tumor, and vasculature. Simulations are performed using a triaxial antenna operating at 2.45 GHz, with a standard ablation time of 10 minutes and an input power of 65 Watts. In addition, the microwave antenna mimics the clinical insertion path in each case. The simulation model encompasses the coupled electromagnetic field and bioheat transfer, comprehensively understanding the underlying dynamics. The simulations contain seven distinct blood perfusion rates, both with and without considering metabolic heat. This variation allows for a thorough exploration of their combined impact on tissue damage and tumor destruction throughout MWA therapy. These findings underscore the intricate interplay of factors influencing the outcomes of MWA procedures, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive modeling that incorporates various parameters for accurate predictions.
Heshmat et al. (Fri,) studied this question.