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

Abstract

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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.