Differences in the lesion formation process between focused ultrasound and microwave ablations

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Thermal Ablation Technologies

Background:

• Thermal ablation techniques like microwave and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) are crucial for treating various medical conditions.
• Understanding the precise mechanisms of lesion formation is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
• Differences in energy delivery and tissue interaction can lead to variations in ablation zone characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the lesion formation processes of microwave ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
• To analyze the differences in lesion shape, size, and development dynamics between the two ablation modalities.
• To evaluate the accuracy of real-time monitoring in assessing lesion progression during ablation.

Main Methods:

• Real-time monitoring of lesion formation using transparent tissue-mimicking phantoms.
• Comparative analysis of microwave and HIFU ablation at 60 and 70 W driving electrical power.
• Optical observation of protein denaturation and ultrasonic imaging of hyperechoic regions.

Main Results:

• Microwave and HIFU ablation produced lesions with significantly different shapes, sizes, and developmental patterns.
• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) generated larger hyperechoic regions in ultrasound imaging compared to optically observed denatured zones.
• Microwave ablation resulted in hyperechoic signals confined to a smaller area around the antenna.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates distinct lesion formation characteristics between microwave and HIFU ablation.
• Accurate real-time monitoring and precise control over the lesion development process are critical for successful thermal ablation.
• These findings have implications for selecting and optimizing ablation strategies in clinical practice.