Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment

This study addresses the crucial need for comparative analyses of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) as effective and minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques. Both modalities employ thermal ablation mechanisms but differ fundamentally in their operational ph...

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Main Authors: Teerapot Wessapan, Pornthip Keangin, Phadungsak Rattanadecho, Nisakorn Somsuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Thermofluids
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725000382
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author Teerapot Wessapan
Pornthip Keangin
Phadungsak Rattanadecho
Nisakorn Somsuk
author_facet Teerapot Wessapan
Pornthip Keangin
Phadungsak Rattanadecho
Nisakorn Somsuk
author_sort Teerapot Wessapan
collection DOAJ
description This study addresses the crucial need for comparative analyses of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) as effective and minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques. Both modalities employ thermal ablation mechanisms but differ fundamentally in their operational physics: HIFU uses focused acoustic waves and MWA uses electromagnetic radiation. Utilizing advanced numerical simulations based on porous media theory, we modeled acoustic and electromagnetic wave propagation and their subsequent interactions with biological tissues. This approach enabled us to accurately depict and analyze the temperature distributions and fluid dynamics during treatment scenarios. Significant results highlighted fundamental differences in the heat transfer mechanisms between the two techniques: for example, under similar power settings, HIFU's focal region reached peak temperatures approximately 2–4 °C higher within the first 10 s, while MWA's thermal footprint extended 20–30 % farther radially. HIFU demonstrated precise, localized heating at the acoustic focus, whereas MWA exhibited broader thermal effects owing to its electromagnetic wave spread. Key findings demonstrate that HIFU provides precision in thermal applications at the risk of requiring exact transducer alignment, whereas MWA's extensive heat spread could treat larger or irregularly shaped tumors but might affect adjacent tissues. Moreover, the flow effects due to the porous nature of tissues significantly influence the heat distribution patterns, with HIFU generating localized and intense heat flux owing to focused acoustic streaming, whereas MWA promotes wider heat spread facilitated by natural convection flows.
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spelling doaj-art-0437ecb565ab42e8a3cfa8b02ca7b4a52025-08-20T01:57:36ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Thermofluids2666-20272025-03-012610109010.1016/j.ijft.2025.101090Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatmentTeerapot Wessapan0Pornthip Keangin1Phadungsak Rattanadecho2Nisakorn Somsuk3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, ThailandDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Electromagnetic Energy Utilization in Engineering (CEEE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; Corresponding author.Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, ThailandThis study addresses the crucial need for comparative analyses of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) as effective and minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques. Both modalities employ thermal ablation mechanisms but differ fundamentally in their operational physics: HIFU uses focused acoustic waves and MWA uses electromagnetic radiation. Utilizing advanced numerical simulations based on porous media theory, we modeled acoustic and electromagnetic wave propagation and their subsequent interactions with biological tissues. This approach enabled us to accurately depict and analyze the temperature distributions and fluid dynamics during treatment scenarios. Significant results highlighted fundamental differences in the heat transfer mechanisms between the two techniques: for example, under similar power settings, HIFU's focal region reached peak temperatures approximately 2–4 °C higher within the first 10 s, while MWA's thermal footprint extended 20–30 % farther radially. HIFU demonstrated precise, localized heating at the acoustic focus, whereas MWA exhibited broader thermal effects owing to its electromagnetic wave spread. Key findings demonstrate that HIFU provides precision in thermal applications at the risk of requiring exact transducer alignment, whereas MWA's extensive heat spread could treat larger or irregularly shaped tumors but might affect adjacent tissues. Moreover, the flow effects due to the porous nature of tissues significantly influence the heat distribution patterns, with HIFU generating localized and intense heat flux owing to focused acoustic streaming, whereas MWA promotes wider heat spread facilitated by natural convection flows.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725000382High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)Microwave ablation (MWA)Thermal ablationPorous biomaterialHeat transfer
spellingShingle Teerapot Wessapan
Pornthip Keangin
Phadungsak Rattanadecho
Nisakorn Somsuk
Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
International Journal of Thermofluids
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Microwave ablation (MWA)
Thermal ablation
Porous biomaterial
Heat transfer
title Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
title_full Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
title_short Comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high-intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
title_sort comparative analysis of heat transfer dynamics in high intensity focused ultrasound and microwave ablation for cancer treatment
topic High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Microwave ablation (MWA)
Thermal ablation
Porous biomaterial
Heat transfer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666202725000382
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AT phadungsakrattanadecho comparativeanalysisofheattransferdynamicsinhighintensityfocusedultrasoundandmicrowaveablationforcancertreatment
AT nisakornsomsuk comparativeanalysisofheattransferdynamicsinhighintensityfocusedultrasoundandmicrowaveablationforcancertreatment