Microwave Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Effect of Metabolic Heat on Temperature Distribution

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the main cause of liver cancer and one of the most occurring cancers worldwide. Microwave Ablation (MWA) is a method to destroy cancer cells by heating tumors above 50°C. Cancerous tissues can have high metabolic heat rates and affect temperature gain and distribution in thermal therapies. This research clarifies the metabolic heat effects in MWA therapy of liver cancer. Using Pennes Bioheat transfer equation with finite element numerical method, this research simulates temperature distribution with metabolic heat value ranging from 368,1 W/m3 to 29000 W/m3. The heat generated by metabolic heat is lower than the MWA heat source. However, the temperature increase should be considered as it can increase healthy surrounding tissue temperature to dangerous levels.