Proposing an Innovative Radiofrequency Ablation Method for Liver Tumour Treatment: A Computational Study Ablation

Abstract

Introduction: Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, claiming over thousands of lives annually. Various treatment methods have been employed, but each suffers from several shortcomings that challenge their therapeutic efficacy. Nonetheless, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) has recently garnered significant attention from medical professionals. Despite its effectiveness, this treatment approach presents a critical challenge: the unintended penetration of heat into healthy liver tissues, particularly in the areas surrounding the tumor.

Objectives: How to add phase change material nanoparticles in the marginal areas and healthy liver tissue to prevent unwanted temperature increases. For this purpose, a model of healthy tissues, the marginal area, and the liver tumor were first simulated.

Methods: A radiofrequency antenna, designed and simulated as a probe, was utilized as a heat source in the tumor region. By defining the appropriate parameters, the distribution of heat energy within each area was determined as an electromagnetic and heat transfer problem for the software. The finite element method was employed to solve the problem in the presence and absence of nanoparticles. The results were then presented in the form of thermogram graphs.

Results: The findings revealed that the heat generated within the tumor effectively destroyed the cancer cells, indicating a successful RFA process. However, the obtained thermogram demonstrated that thermal energy inevitably penetrated the healthy tissue, particularly in the marginal area, causing an increase in temperature. Conversely, examining the heat distribution pattern in the marginal and healthy tissues showed that using paraffin significantly reduced the unwanted temperature increase. Even the temperature decreased to its natural value in areas distal to the tumor center.

Conclusions: In conclusion, nanoparticles, appear to effectively preserve healthy liver tissues while enhancing the efficiency of liver tumor treatment during RFA. This, in turn, improves the therapeutic effect of RFA in liver tumor management.