The fat content of small primary breast cancer interferes with radiofrequency-induced thermal ablation

Radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation is a minimally invasive technique of local mass elimination with variable efficiency.

Ten patients with small primary breast cancer diagnosed preoperatively by core needle biopsy were ablated percutaneously by an RF (Radionics Cool-tip) device operating on impedance control mode. The percent fat-containing area was calculated in each slide of a total of 47 slides introduced to IQ materials software image analysis.

Seven of 10 tumors with tumor diameter less than 2.8 cm and fat content less than 12.47% were totally ablated (score 3). One of 10 with 3 cm tumor diameter and 5.45% fat content showed an intermediate degree of ablated tissue (score 2), and the last 2 with 2 cm and 2.2 cm tumor diameter and more than 19.74% tumor fat content were minimally ablated (score 1). Our present exploratory study on 10 patients suggests dependence of the degree of thermal damage on tumor fat content.

We conclude that the fat content of small primary breast cancer could serve as a 'heat sink' and should be considered as a preventing factor of complete local tumor destruction by RF thermal ablation.