Validation of the implementation of phased-array heating systems in Plan2Heat

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Oncology

Background:

• Accurate hyperthermia treatment planning is crucial for optimizing treatment quality.
• Reliable prediction of device heating characteristics, such as focus size and steering effects, is essential for effective planning.
• Phased-array systems are widely used in clinical hyperthermia, necessitating validated planning tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the predictive accuracy of the Plan2Heat treatment planning system.
• To assess Plan2Heat's ability to predict heating characteristics for various clinically used phased-array systems.

Main Methods:

• Simulations of specific absorption rate (SAR) were performed using Plan2Heat in phantoms.
• Evaluated heating systems included AMC-2, AMC-4/ALBA-4D, BSD Sigma-30, and Sigma-60.
• Plan2Heat predictions were compared against published measurement data (E-field or temperature rise).

Main Results:

• Plan2Heat accurately predicts the location and size of the SAR focus based on phase-amplitude and frequency settings.
• The system correctly reflects measured effects of phase-amplitude steering on focus shifts.
• Deviations between simulated and measured data were typically within 10-20%, aligning with experimental uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• Plan2Heat adequately predicts the heating characteristics of commonly used clinical phased-array hyperthermia systems.
• The validated accuracy of Plan2Heat supports its integration into clinical workflows for improved treatment planning.
• This study confirms Plan2Heat as a reliable tool for predicting hyperthermia device performance.