Parametric investigation of heating due to magnetic fluid hyperthermia in a tumor with blood perfusion

►Analytical model of magnetic fluid hyperthermia of tumor tissue perfused with magnetic nanoparticles that is surrounded by healthy tissue. Model results agree with clinical data. ►Key dimensionless parameters influencing thermotherapy include the Péclet (Pe), Fourier (Fo), and Joule (J) numbers. ► MFH for tumors having larger Pe due to higher heat loss through blood perfusion requires higher magnetic heating (Fo/J). At low (Fo/J) values, tissue heterogeneities exert a strong influence on the treatment time. ►The fraction of the tumor heated above a threshold treatment temperature improves upon increasing (Fo/J) but this can also damage the surrounding healthy tissue. ►The distribution of magnetic nanoparticles in the tumor matters. Compared to a homogeneous distribution, a Gaussian distribution reduces the possibility of generating a hot-spot at the tumor center while an exponential distribution produces more damage to the surrounding normal tissue.