Conformal Tumor Treatment by the Combined Cryosurgical and Hyperthermic System: Optimal Configuration of the Multiple Probes

Recently, a minimally invasive probe system capable of performing both cryosurgery and hyperthermia treatment for deep tumor was developed. With the increasing applications of such combined system, it becomes apparent that without optimal configuration of the multiple probes during multiple freeze/heat cycles, it is difficult produce a conformal lesion in the tumor tissue, which may lead to either insufficient or excessive freezing/heating and consequently, to tumor recurrence or to destruction of healthy tissue. In this study, a comprehensive three-dimensional numerical investigation is performed to design optimal configurations of the multiple probes used in the combined cryosurgical and hyperthermic treatment. The results presented in this study will be useful for treatment planning of the combined cryosurgical and hyperthermic treatment.