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Research progress on simulation of radiofrequency ablation for liver cancer treatment

Shaobo Wang1, Yuan Yao2, Haipo Cui1


1Shanghai Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapy, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China. 2Shanghai Songyu Medical Device Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200050, China.


Address correspondence to: Haipo Cui, Shanghai Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapy, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093 Jungong Road, China. E-mail: h_b_cui@163.com.


Acknowledgement: This work was supported by State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer Foundation (KF2407-93).


Received April 26, 2025; Accepted June 9, 2025; Published June 30, 2025


Highlights

● Analyzing the influence of biological tissue parameters on the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation.

● Comparing the advantages and limitations of four biological heat transfer models.

● Comparing three evaluation methods for assessing ablation-induced thermal damage.

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used minimally invasive treatment for non-surgical hepatocellular carcinoma. This review synthesizes the technical principles, core components, and key modeling aspects of RFA. RFA induces tumor necrosis via Joule heating from ionic vibration. Electrode needle design critically impacts ablation efficacy and safety, with multipolar needles offering larger zones yet posing power and tissue risks. Crucially, biological tissue parameters exhibit dynamic spatial and thermal variations, necessitating nonlinear modeling for accurate temperature prediction. While the Pennes bioheat model remains mainstream for its simplicity, more advanced models (e.g., porous medium) enhance physiological realism. Thermal damage assessment commonly employs the Arrhenius model and isothermal thresholds, aided by real-time monitoring for intraoperative precision. Future research should prioritize the development of smart electrodes, creation of personalized tissue parameter databases, and exploration of multi-energy techniques to shift RFA from an “empirically oriented” approach to an “accurate prediction” paradigm, ultimately improving hepatocellular carcinoma patient survival and quality of life.

Keywords: Radiofrequency ablation, liver cancer, electron spin, biological heat transfer equation

Wang SB, Yao Y, Cui HP. Radiofrequency ablation, liver cancer, electron spin, biological heat transfer equation. Prog in Med Devices 2025 Jun; 3 (2): 96-105. doi: 10.61189/606109gzqkrg.

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