Numerical Prediction of the Intracellular ICE Formation Zone during Cryosurgery on a Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma Using Liquid Nitrogen Spray

Abstract

Cryosurgery is a surgical technique that employs freezing to destroy target tumor tissue. While the main objective during a cryosurgical procedure is to ensure tissue destruction within the cryolesion, the greatest challenge is how to spare the surrounding healthy tissues from cryoablation. In this work, a historical review of the field of cryosurgery is presented followed by a theoretical study where a mathematical model is developed for cryosurgery on a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using liquid nitrogen (LN 2 ) spray. The model takes into consideration the anatomic structure of skin tissue and the irregular geometry of BCC. In particular, a methodology for quantitatively determining the extent of the intracellular ice formation (IIF) zone based on the tissue temperature and cooling rate (CR) is proposed, which can directly relate to the necrosis of the cancer cells after cryosurgery. The model is then used to analyze formation of the IIF zone during cryosurgery on a BCC and quantification is provided for the volume of the final IIF zone. A parametric study is also carried out to investigate the effect of various protocol parameters on the final IIF zone. The results should be useful for dermatologists for pre-treatment surgery planning.

Proteome sampling with e-biopsy enables differentiation between cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma

“…The model constitutes of a 2D mesh, in a plane-parallel mode and the problem type is direct current (DC) conduction. A general carcinoma lesion (the electrical 31,32 and thermal [33][34][35] properties of BCC and cSCC are similar) was modelled as a 2D rectangle with 20mm length, 2mm infiltration depth, and surrounded with a healthy skin strap of 5mm length from both sides of the lesion. Needle electrode with radius of 0.3mm is positioned 10mm from the ground electrode and it penetrates the skin 1mm into the lesion.…”