Abstract
This study investigates the influence of input power variations in microwave antenna-based thermal treatment for liver cancer, utilizing numerical simulations through the finite element method. Investigating nanoparticle type, treatment duration, and associated side effects, our research yields insightful findings. Maghemite nanoparticle injections demonstrate a reduction in treatment time from 7.35 seconds at 10 W to 6.1 seconds at 100 W, with the ratio of healthy tissue volume destroyed with the ratio of healthy tissue volume destroyed to tumor volume remaining relatively consistent across this power range (16% at 10 W to 19% at 100 W), indicate a degree of independence from input power. Conversely, magnetite and FccFePt nanoparticles display power-dependent decrease in treatment duration, illustrating the interplaction between input power and therapeutic efficiency. Treatment duration at 10 W are 176 seconds and 295 seconds for magnetite and FccFePt, respectively, diminishing to 58 seconds and 74 seconds at 100 W. Side effects, quantified as the ratio of healthy tissue destroyed to tumor volume, decline for both nanoparticle types with increasing power, reaching a minimum at intermediate powers (60 W and 50 W). Notably, at 10 W, 4.89 and 8.93 times the tumor volume are destroyed from healthy tissue for magnetite and FccFePt, respectively, decreasing to 4.05 and 5.6 times at 100 W. This nuanced understanding of comprehension of treatment duration and side effects’ dependency on input power levels provides valuable insights for refining treatment parameters and optimizing therapeutic outcomes in liver cancer interventions. Furthermore, the study incorporates a model within the hyperthermia treatment framework, integrating the evaporation temperature as a distinguishing factor. Systematic numerical results enhance the scientific discourse on liver tumor treatment, contributing to the advancement of understanding and refining therapeutic strategies.