About the Interstitial Microwave Cancer Ablation: Principles, Advantages and Challenges

Abstract

This article presents a review of the interstitial microwave cancer ablation. Microwave cancer ablation is an effective technique for the cancer therapy using the electromagnetic radiations in the microwave range. The idea behind using the microwave electromagnetic radiations in cancer therapy is basically based on dielectric heating of the cancerous tissues until the death of the infected cells. This article reviews the theory of operation of the microwave cancer ablation technique with overview of the electrical properties of the biological tissues as they are key parameters to study the behavior of the cancer ablation process. Advantages of microwave cancer ablation technique over the other techniques especially its most related one, i.e., the radiofrequency cancer ablation are highlighted. Although the microwave cancer ablation has attained high attention by the researchers, many of challenges which degrade its performance still exist. The paper discusses the challenges of the microwave cancer ablation and highlights the efforts done by the researchers to tackle them. Different antenna structures utilized for microwave cancer ablation are presented with mention of their behavior, advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, some of the most recent progresses in the microwave cancer ablation field are presented.

A review of antenna designs for percutaneous microwave ablation

“…There have been several published reviews of MWA, such as [11,29,[46][47][48]. However, considerable progress has been made in MWA in last few years, especially with respect to the design of antennas, which is the primary focus of this paper.…”

Design of a novel externally‐tapped intertwining helical antenna for microwave ablation and its statistical analysis on tissue model

“…where n is the unit vector normal to the heat flux (ÀkrT), k is the thermal conductivity of the tissue, and rT is the temperature gradient. The Equation (10) ensures that the outer boundary of the computational domain is thermally insulated.…”

“…Effective heating includes reaching up to a temperature (i.e., 65-70 C) where cell necrosis occurs and minimally invasiveness includes a diameter of the applicator to be as such to maintain a trade-off between power handling capacity and dimensions of an applicator. 10 A MWA applicator is a thin, long, and needle-shaped applicator that is to be inserted into tissue to deliver microwave energy that can kill the localized tumor. 11 Various antenna applicators such as coaxial slot, monopole, dipole, coaxial cap choked, and ring slots applicator have been reported in References 10,12.…”

Computational FEM Model and Phantom Validation of Microwave Ablation for Segmental Microcalcifications in Breasts Using a Coaxial Double-Slot Antenna

“…This is because it is not necessary to use a reference electrode as in the case of radiofrequency ablation; electromagnetic waves can propagate by all kinds of biological tissue. Moreover, it is possible to make arrangements of more than one antenna and presents less procedural pain [ 8 ]; and needle applicators can be produced at a low cost [ 9 ].…”