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Experimental Evaluation of the Heat Sink Effect in Hepatic Microwave Ablation
Kristina I Ringe1, Carolin Lutat1, Christian Rieder2
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Purpose:
To demonstrate and quantify the heat sink effect in hepatic microwave ablation (MWA) in a standardized ex vivo model, and to analyze the influence of vessel distance and blood flow on lesion volume and shape.
Materials And Methods:
108 ex vivo MWA procedures were performed in freshly harvested pig livers. Antennas were inserted parallel to non-perfused and perfused (700,1400 ml/min) glass tubes (diameter 5mm) at different distances (10, 15, 20mm). Ablation zones (radius, area) were analyzed and compared (Kruskal-Wallis Test, Dunn's multiple comparison Test). Temperature changes adjacent to the tubes were measured throughout the ablation cycle.
Results:
Maximum temperature decreased significantly with increasing flow and distance (p<0.05). Compared to non-perfused tubes, ablation zones were significantly deformed by perfused tubes within 15 mm distance to the antenna (p<0.05). At a flow rate of 700 ml/min ablation zone radius was reduced to 37.2% and 80.1% at 10 and 15 mm tube distance, respectively; ablation zone area was reduced to 50.5% and 89.7%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Significant changes of ablation zones were demonstrated in a pig liver model. Considerable heat sink effect was observed within a diameter of 15 mm around simulated vessels, dependent on flow rate. This has to be taken into account when ablating liver lesions close to vessels.
