Analysis of heat transfer in deformed liver cancer modeling treated using a microwave coaxial antenna

In interstitial microwave ablation (MWA), cancer is treated by applying localized heating to the tumor tissue. Some of the challenges associated with the selective heating of cancer cells, without damaging the surrounding tissue, entail a control of heating power for appropriate temperature distribution. This paper is carried out on the computer simulation of liver cancer treated using a microwave coaxial antenna (MCA). The mathematical models consist of a coupled electromagnetic wave equation, bioheat equation and mechanical deformation equation. In numerical simulation, these coupled mathematical models are solved by using an axisymmetric finite element method (FEM) with temperature dependent thermal and dielectric properties to describe the microwave power absorbed, specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution, temperature distribution and strain distribution in liver tissue. The comparison of the simulated results in model with and without deformation is also considered in order to approach realistic tissue modeling. The results show that the model with deformation, which is the more accurate way to simulate the physical characteristics of therapeutic liver cancer compared to the literature results and hence leads to more useful in the medical approach.

► A proposed model including mechanical deformation of biological tissue during MWA.
► The developed model has enabled us to get more accurate predictions during MWA.
► This simulated results can be used as a guideline for the practical treatment.