Optimizaing the Parameters of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Tumors in Irreversible Electroporation Treatment Method

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Electroporation is an effective strategy for drug delivery to the target volume, for example in chemotherapy. The efficiency of this method depends on the selection of optimal parameters affecting it. This studay aimed to evaluate the optimum parameters for treatment of soft tissue sarcoma tumors on irreversible electroporation treatments.Methods: The geometry of the tumor was defined using the Mimics software regarding to the gatherd magnetic resonance images (MRI). Using CAD-fix software, the Mimics product geometry was converted to the geometry that could be used in the finite element. The FEMLAB4.4 software utilized to solve equations (Laplace and the biothermal equations). In order to optimize the geometry of the electrodes used in irreversible electroporation, a Genetic Algorithm program was used. The Genetic Algorithm code was written using the MATLAB7.10.0 software.Findings: The induced electric field intensity to the tumor increased with increasing voltage applied to the electrodes and the maximum electric field intensity was observed in the potential of 4000 volts. The average electric field intensity distribution in the tissue was altered by changing the electrode penetration depth, the distance between the electrodes and the thickness of the electrodes. Despite the high electric field utilized to the tumor area, there was only a slight increase in the average temperature of the tumor (37°C). Although the tissue temperature near the end of the electrode could be increased up to 600°C.Conclusion: The optimum effective parameters of irreversible electroporation treatments for tumor ablation could be calculated using the numerical modeling methods.

Keywords


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