MODELING A THERMAL DAMAGE CONTROLLED PROTOCOL FOR LIVER TUMOR THERMAL ABLATION : A COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO BIOHEAT MODELS

In this work, two different bioheat models are implemente d to model a thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma liver tumor . A mixed constant and pulsating heat source protocol is developed, evaluating the thermal damage level on the tumor rim. A porous media based model and a modified Pennes’ bioheat equation are developed to consider the realistic variation of both blood volume fraction (porosity) in the first model, and perfusion term in the second one , from tumor core, tumor rim, and the sur rounding healthy tissue. The results are presented in terms of temperature fields, thermal damage and dimension of the ablated zone achieved.