Kinetic thermal response and damage in laser coagulation of tissue

Laser induced interstitial coagulation has become a method of treating different types of tumors. Theoretical modeling and analysis may be used to better understand the complex process involved in the laser coagulation and optimized the dosimetry of laser thermotherapy.

A full dynamic theoretical model was developed to simulate the dynamic evolution of coagulation in tissue, which accounted for the dynamics of the temperature and damage dependence of optical properties, thermal properties, and blood-perfusion rate. The simulation of the temperature distribution, coagulation depth and its hysteresis during laser thermotherapy for full-dynamic model are compared with the calculations from other models.

Increased scattering in the near surface of applicator prevents light penetration into deeper region. Moreover, rise in temperature increases both blood flow at the periphery of coagulation region and thermal properties, which reduces the damage depth and its hysteresis. It results in a considerable overestimation of the temperature distribution and damage depth ignoring the dynamic of optical properties. The coagulation would be limited in a smaller region and there is no hysteresis if blood perfusion is regarded as a constant. In contrast, the hysteresis is overestimated if blood perfusion is ignored. Ignoring the dynamics of thermal parameters, there is also overestimation of the rise in temperature and damage depth.

Mathematical modeling techniques that simulate laser coagulation may not provide reliable information unless they take into account these dynamic parameters.