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Validation of a mathematical model for laser-induced thermotherapy in liver tissue

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to develop a simulation approach for laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) that is based on mathematical models for radiation transport, heat transport, and tissue damage. The LITT ablation was applied to ex vivo pig liver tissue. Experiments were repeated with different laser powers, i.e., 22–34 W, and flow rates of the cooling water in the applicator system, i.e., 47–92 ml/min. During the procedure, the temperature was measured in the liver sample at different distances to the applicator as well as in the cooling circuit using a fiber optic thermometer. For validation, the simulation results were compared with the results of the laser ablation experiments in the ex vivo pig liver samples. The simulated and measured temperature curves presented a relatively good agreement. The Bland-Altman plot showed an average of temperature differences of –0.13 ∘C and 95%-limits-of-agreement of ±7.11 ∘C. The standard deviation amounted to ±3.63 ∘C. The accuracy of the developed simulation is comparable with the accuracy of the MR thermometry reported in other clinical studies. The simulation showed a significant potential for the application in treatment planning.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for the project ”In-vitro Temperaturbestimmung und Computersimulation der Temperaturverteilung zur optimalen Planung und Steuerung der laserinduzierten Thermotherapie (LITT)”, with the reference numbers VO 479/10-3 and SI 1289/1-3, to the institutes IDIR of the J.W. Goethe-University of Frankfurt and the Fraunhofer ITWM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Haus 23c, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany

    F. Hübner, B. Bazrafshan & T. J. Vogl

  2. Fraunhofer Institut für Techno- und Wirtschaftsmathematik (ITWM), Fraunhofer–Platz 1, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    C. Leithäuser & N. Siedow

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  1. F. Hübner
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  2. C. Leithäuser
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  3. B. Bazrafshan
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  4. N. Siedow
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  5. T. J. Vogl
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Correspondence to F. Hübner.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Role of funding source

The German Research Foundation (DFG) provided financial means for this research study.

Ethical approval

Since the experiments were performed only on ex vivo pig liver tissue which was obtained from the butcher, no ethical approval was necessary for this study.

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No informed consent was applicable for this study.

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Role of funding source

The German Research Foundation (DFG) provided financial means for this research study.

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Hübner, F., Leithäuser, C., Bazrafshan, B. et al. Validation of a mathematical model for laser-induced thermotherapy in liver tissue. Lasers Med Sci 32, 1399–1409 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2260-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2260-4

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