A review of radiofrequency ablation: Large target tissue necrosis and mathematical modelling

Bing Zhang; Michael A J Moser; Edwin M Zhang; Yigang Luo; Changli Liu; Wenjun Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.07.092

A review of radiofrequency ablation: Large target tissue necrosis and mathematical modelling

Phys Med. 2016 Aug;32(8):961-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.07.092. Epub 2016 Jul 25.

Authors

Bing Zhang¹, Michael A J Moser², Edwin M Zhang³, Yigang Luo², Changli Liu⁴, Wenjun Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Complex and Intelligent Systems Centre, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
² Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada.
³ Division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1W7, Canada.
⁴ Complex and Intelligent Systems Centre, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
⁵ Complex and Intelligent Systems Centre, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada. Electronic address: chris.zhang@usask.ca.

PMID: 27461969
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.07.092

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective clinical method for tumour ablation with minimum intrusiveness. However, the use of RFA is mostly restricted to small tumours, especially those <3cm in diameter. This paper discusses the state-of-the-art of RFA, drawn from experimental and clinical results, for large tumours (i.e. ⩾3cm in diameter). In particular, the paper analyses clinical results related to target tissue necrosis (TTN) and mathematical modelling of the RFA procedure to understand the mechanism whereby the TTN is limited to under 3cm with RFA. This paper also discusses a strategy of controlling of the temperature of target tissue in the RFA procedure with the state-of-art device, which has the potential to increase the size of TTN. This paper ends with a discussion of some future ideas to solve the so-called 3-cm problem with RFA.

Keywords: Clinical results; Mathematical modelling; Radiofrequency ablation; Target tissue necrosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ablation Techniques / methods*
Hot Temperature
Humans
Models, Biological*
Necrosis / pathology
Necrosis / therapy*
Radiofrequency Therapy*
Tumor Burden*