Simulated Clinical Scenarios of Laser-Induced Thermotherapy in Breast Tumors: A Parametric Study Using Enhanced Bioheat Models

Abstract

Laser-Induced Thermotherapy (LITT) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive treatment for localized breast tumors, offering targeted thermal ablation with minimal impact on surrounding tissues. This research offers an extended bioheat transfer models and simulation on clinically motivated LITT scenarios in MATLAB. To recreate lifelike interstitial fiber deposition and irradiation with laser, a 3-D model of breast tissue, with an embedded tumor geometry is created. Time-dependent laser power, time-dependent optical absorption, time-dependent adaptive blood perfusion and spatial distribution of nanoparticles representing any of the key physiological and treatment-dependent parameters are systematically varied to simulate potential clinical conditions.

These non-linear thermal effects are incorporated into the governing Pennes bioheat equation and the resulting equation of the Pennes bioheat is then numerically solved utilizing a finite difference scheme. The tissue viability is determined using the Arrhenius damage model which makes it possible to dynamically follow the evolution of necrotic volume. They are simulated under various conditions of treatment such as different tumor sizes, different durations of laser and orientation of fibres to see their effect on thermal damage profile and effectiveness of ablation.

The results show that optical characteristics that depend on temperature as well as perfusion feedback have a great impact on the heat penetration and localization of damage. The enhancement of absorption using nanoparticles leads to the significant increase in the area of necrosis with the simultaneous decrease in energy demand. This parametric study is a good basis in which the LITT treatment planning can be maximized and is a kind of a virtual platform to test it in case of lacking experimental or clinical information. The study helps in the preparation of more personalized and safer lasers to be used in the treatment of breast cancer.