Theoretical Evaluation of Microwave Ablation Applied on Muscle, Fat and Bone: A Numerical Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a common tumor ablation surgery. Because of the high temperature of the ablation antenna, it is strongly destructive to surrounding vital tissues, resulting in high professional requirements for clinicians. The method used to carry out temperature observation and damage prediction in MWA is significant; (2) Methods: This work employs numerical study to explore temperature distribution of typical tissues in MWA. Firstly, clinical MWA based on isolated biological tissue is implemented. Then, the Pennes models and microwave radiation physics are established based on experimental parameters and existing related research. Initial values and boundary conditions are adjusted to better meet the real clinical materials and experimental conditions. Finally, clinical MWA data test this model. On the premise that the model is matched with clinical MWA, fat and bone are deduced for further heat transfer analysis. (3) Results: Numerical study obtains the temperature distribution of biological tissue in MWA. It observes the heat transfer law of ablation antenna in biological tissue. Additionally, combined with temperature threshold, it generates thermal damage of biological tissues and predicts the possible risks in MWA; (4) Conclusions: This work proposes a numerical study of typical biological tissues. It provides a new theoretical basis for clinically thermal ablation surgery.