Ricerc@Sapienza

Microwave ablation is a fast-growing hyperthermic treatment option for unresectable malignancies. From pioneering percutaneous microwave procedures to treat liver lesions, nowadays several new clinical indications are emerging. The spread of microwave ablation in clinical practice is growing alongside with the requirement for minimally-invasive procedures and, consequently, minimally invasive microwave applicators. Tri-axial structures and chokes have been proposed in the literature as techniques to improve the ablation performance of needle-shaped antennas.

In this communication, we present a full-wave numerical study aimed at showing the potential of microwave tomography as a tool to monitor microwave ablation of solid tumors. The goal is to track the changes in dielectric properties of the tissue undergoing the treatment, in order to appraise the evolving dimension and shape of the thermally ablated area surrounding the applicator.

Thermal ablation treatments are gaining a lot of attention in the clinics thanks to their reduced invasiveness and their capability of treating non-surgical patients. The effectiveness of these treatments and their impact in the hospital's routine would significantly increase if paired with a monitoring technique able to control the evolution of the treated area in real-time. This is particularly relevant in microwave thermal ablation, wherein the capability of treating larger tumors in a shorter time needs proper monitoring.