Patient-specific prediction of 3D ablation zones via oncological feature-conditioned deep generative modeling: An in silico feasibility study.

Optimizing electrolytic ablation therapy: Effects of electrode polarization modes through in silico and in vitro studies.

Local tumor progression (LTP) after percutaneous ablation of small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is suspected when new enhancing or enlarging soft tissue appears within the ablation zone. Benign post-treatment changes can mimic this finding. This study compares the incidence and imaging characteristics of non-malignant changes (NMC) versus LTP after renal ablation. In this single-center, retrospective study, all patients with RCC treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) from February 2004 to May 2016 were identified. Post-ablation imaging reports from through May 2017 were reviewed to detect findings suspicious for LTP. Patients with suspicious findings underwent clinical, imaging, and histopathologic follow-up through May 2025 to determine the reference diagnosis. Imaging features were categorized by morphology, location within the ablation zone, and enhancement pattern. Among 256 patients (mean age 65.6 years ± 10.8, 193 men) with 268 treated tumors, 18 tumors (6.7%) developed suspicious imaging findings. Eight tumors (3.0%) were classified as NMC and 10 tumors (3.7%) as LTP. NMC had significantly lower CT enhancement than LTP (31 vs 152 HU, P < .001). Lesions along the renal parenchymal margin were exclusively associated with LTP (9/9), whereas abnormalities at the extrarenal margin or centrally within the ablation zone were predominantly NMC (8/9). Enhancement with washout was seen only in LTP. Non-malignant post-ablation changes can mimic LTP and occur with similar frequency. Imaging features can help differentiate benign changes from local tumor progression and reduce unnecessary re-interventions.

Breast cryoablation for the treatment of fibroadenoma and breast cancer is safe and effective, and breast cryoablation performed as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia alone is well tolerated by patients. Because use of this procedure is increasing, radiologists and proceduralists must understand the postcryoablation breast imaging algorithms, including the rationale for imaging, the appropriate timing for imaging, and appropriate imaging modalities. Radiologists must also be able to differentiate benign, expected posttreatment findings at the ablation zone from findings suggestive of residual, progressing, or recurrent malignancy on mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, US, MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography. Finally, radiologists must report postcryoablation breast imaging findings using appropriate descriptors and standardized reporting lexicon. Accurate and standardized reporting of postcryoablation breast imaging findings is important to guide clinical management, facilitate research on imaging findings' associated risk for malignancy, and permit comparison of radiologist performance and patient outcomes across facilities worldwide.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive treatment for brain tumors that are recurrent or surgically inaccessible. We developed a murine model of LITT to investigate its effects on tumor burden, immune activation, and delivery of heat-activated therapeutics. We engineered a preclinical LITT system using a 1064-nm laser coupled to a 400-μm fiber-optic probe. Orthotopic gliomas were established in the right frontal cortex of BL6 mice using luciferase-transduced glioma cells. Ten days post-implantation, mice were treated with LITT (0.45 or 0.75 W). Tumor response and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption were assessed using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), Evans Blue dye, and histology at 3, 7, and 14days post-treatment. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining characterized immune cell activation. The distribution of doxorubicin released from intravenously administered Thermodox® was also evaluated. LITT disrupted the BBB, enabling Evans Blue dye and doxorubicin penetration up to 4mm from the probe. Tumor burden was reduced by LITT, as shown by decreased hypercellularity on H&E and reduced BLI signal, while sham-treated mice showed tumor progression. A reproducible ablation zone formed at the probe site. IF revealed increased IBA1 + macrophages and T cell infiltration in LITT-treated brains. Thermodox®-derived doxorubicin distribution correlated with thermal diffusion and matched a Fickian perfusion model. We present a reproducible preclinical model of LITT that enables investigation of tumor ablation, immune modulation, and thermally triggered drug delivery. These findings support the use of LITT as a platform for combinatorial strategies in glioma treatment.

Abstract. The Greenland ice sheet is melting at an accelerating rate due to the warming climate. In order to understand the potentially important ice-climate feedback processes, evolving ice sheets need to be included in global climate models. Here, we present results from the first bi-directional coupling of the Earth System model NorESM2 with the ice sheet model CISM2 for the Greenland ice sheet under an extended high emission SSP5-8.5 forcing from 1850 to 2300. In our simulation, the ice-mass loss between 1850 and 2300 is equivalent to 1.4 m of sea-level rise. Comparing simulation results to an otherwise identical simulation with a fixed Greenland ice sheet, we see the same global trends in air, ocean and sea-ice changes. The main signals are a 10 °C global air temperature increase from 2000 to 2300, a reduced maximum AMOC at 26.5° N from average 23 to 9 Sv and an all-year free Arctic by 2200. Similar to other coupled CMIP models, the warming trend dominates the changes of the climate components. At the regional scale, elevation changes become an important part of the Greenland surface mass balance, accounting for 20 % of the SMB change by 2200 and for 49 % in 2300. By the year 2300, the ablation area covers 93 % of the ice area. With a low climate sensitivity and relatively weak polar amplification in NorESM2, these results are on the lower end of the spectrum of expected ice mass-loss under CMIP6 model forcing.

Ablation-Guided K Measurements Improve the Accuracy of IOL Power Calculation After Clinically Decentered Myopic LASIK.

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) ablation has gradually been applied in clinical practice. However, no studies have reported its application in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nsPEF ablation for patients with low-risk PTMC. This prospective study (Chinese Clinical Trial Register: ChiCTR-2200064902) included consecutive low-risk PTMC patients who underwent nsPEF ablation at six hospitals in China. Technical feasibility was assessed by recording the technical success of the procedure and therapeutic efficacy at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Technical success was evaluated using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) immediately after ablation, where the target ablation zone exceeded the tumor edge. Therapeutic complications were evaluated. From September 2022 to September 2024, 85 patients (median age, 38 years; IQR, 32-47 years; 58 females) with 85 PTMCs were included, all achieving successful nsPEF ablation. At 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up, median tumor volumes were 0.109, 0.054, 0.020, and 0.000 mL, and the associated median volume reduction ratios were -124.0%, -4.8%, 63.5%, and 100%, respectively. At 12 months, 88.0% (66/75) of PTMCs achieved complete disappearance. 56 (65.9%) patients experienced transient thyrotoxicosis. No recurrent tumors, cervical lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis were observed during follow-up. nsPEF ablation under general anesthesia for low-risk PTMC is effective and safe, with the only major complication of transient thyrotoxicosis in more than 50% of patients, which might be caused by the release of thyroid hormones into the bloodstream due to irreversible electroporation. It appears to offer better absorption of the ablated lesions in the short term, potentially increasing its clinical use. Further short- and long-term study is needed.

Predictive Value of Radiomics Model Based on Multimodal Ultrasound for Ablation Zone Absorption After Microwave Ablation in T1aN0M0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Accurate preprocedural imaging is crucial for optimizing percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) thermal ablation. However, some nodules may remain undetected using conventional contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and MRI (CEMRI), due to poor conspicuity. CT hepatic arteriography (CTHA) is an imaging technique that improves the detection of primary/secondary liver tumors. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of CTHA in detecting occult HCC nodules in cirrhotic patients undergoing percutaneous microwave ablation and to evaluate its impact on pretreatment planning. This retrospective, single-center study analyzed 38 CTHA-guided ablation procedures performed in 35 cirrhotic patients with confirmed HCC, from November 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024. All patients underwent preprocedural CECT /CEMRI within eight weeks before ablation. The number of additional nodules detected by CTHA and their suitability for immediate ablation were assessed. CTHA identified seven occult HCCs in 6/38 procedures (15.8%). The mean size of newly detected lesions was 13mm (IQR 9). All additionally detected nodules were ablated during the same sessions. In 4/38 CTHAs (10.5%), vascular variants precluding a whole liver opacification were encountered. Technical success was achieved in 93.1% of all procedures, with a low rate of grade 1-3 complications (18.4%) and no severe ones. Eight treatments (21.6%) were followed by disease progression apart from the ablation zone. CTHA enhances occult HCC detection, enabling immediate ablation and potentially improving outcomes. However, unusual vascular anatomy may hinder a comprehensive liver evaluation.

Thermal ablation is a minimally invasive therapy used for the treatment of small renal cell carcinoma tumors. Treatment success is evaluated on postablation computed tomography (CT) to determine if the ablation zone covered the tumor with an adequate treatment margin (often 5 to 10mm). Incorrect margin identification can lead to treatment misassessment, resulting in unnecessary additional ablation. Therefore, segmentation of the renal ablation zone (RAZ) is crucial for treatment evaluation. We aim to develop and assess an accurate deep learning workflow for delineating the RAZ from surrounding tissues in kidney CT images. We present an advanced deep learning method using the attention-based U-Net architecture to segment the RAZ. The workflow leverages the strengths of U-Net, enhanced with attention mechanisms, to improve the network's focus on the most relevant parts of the images, resulting in an accurate segmentation. Our model was trained and evaluated on a dataset comprising 76 patients' annotated RAZs in CT images. Analysis demonstrated that the proposed workflow achieved an accuracy , precision , , , Jaccard , specificity , Hausdorff distance , and mean absolute boundary distance . We used 3D CT images with RAZs and, for the first time, addressed deep-learning-based RAZ segmentation using parallel CT images. Our framework can effectively segment RAZs, allowing clinicians to automatically determine the ablation margin, making our tool ready for clinical use. Prediction time is per patient, enabling clinicians to perform quick reviews, especially in time-constrained settings.

MRI for the Assessment of Histotripsy Ablation in a Canine Osteosarcoma Comparative Oncology Model.

Purpose To report the impact of front surface eccentricity (FSE) of scleral lenses (SCLs) on the visual performance of eyes exhibiting refractive surgery-induced higher-order aberrations (HOAs) Method A female teenager presented to the clinic with blurring of vision and dependency on spectacles even after undergoing Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) in both eyes (BE). Her presenting uncorrected high contrast distance visual acuity (HCDVA) was 20/60 in the right eye (RE) and 20/40 in the left eye (LE). On examination, the cornea showed a ring-shaped area of ablation with faint scarring and a well-apposed lenticule-extraction site. Subjective refraction improved the HCDVA to 20/20p in RE and 20/25 in LE but the patient was not satisfied with the quality of vision. Ocular aberrometry revealed an increase in total HOAs as the underlying cause of unsatisfactory vision. Result A contact lens trial was recommended for BE to enhance visual quality. Rigid corneal lenses (RCLs) were tried, but the patient was intolerant to them. Large diameter SCLs of different FSEs (0, 0.6, and 0.8) were tried to reduce these aberrations. SCL with FSE 0 yielded the most favourable visual outcome. Conclusion With this case report, we hypothesize that the eccentricity of SCL can be selected according to the asphericity (at 6 mm) of the posterior corneal surface. This case also re-emphasizes the impact of SCL with varying FSEs on reducing HOAs and enhancing visual quality in eyes where conventional RCLs yield suboptimal results.

To evaluate the ability of spectral CT to non-invasively monitor liver temperature in vivo during thermal ablation. Under a protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, domestic swine (n = 3) underwent microwave ablation (MWA). Four thermocouples were percutaneously placed in the ablation region under ultrasound guidance. Single-probe MWA was performed for 5min at 65W. Sequential dual-layer spectral CT scans were collected at 1-min intervals during and after ablation (n = 16 scans/subject). Pre- and post-ablation contrast-enhanced CTs were acquired. Virtual monoenergetic images (70keV) were used to mask gas bubbles and metal artifacts and to identify and segment ROIs at the thermocouple tips. Electron density weighted (EDW), effective atomic number (Z-eff), and conventional CT results were associated with temperature using correlation analysis and polynomial curve fitting. Explanted ablation zones were sectioned perpendicular to the probe track, and gross pathology was analyzed. Twelve thermocouples were placed near the MWA probe shaft at a mean distance of 8.3mm (range 2.5-24.0mm). Maximum measurements for each thermocouple ranged from 46 to 99°C (overall range 29-99°C). Temperature measurements were compared to corresponding spectral CT imaging results (n = 192). At the thermocouple locations, the mean EDW was 103.9 ± 0.97 (range 98.5-105.8). A negative linear correlation was found between temperature and EDW (r = - 0.570, 95%CI [- 0.483 - 0.645], p < 0.001, root mean squared error = 8.05°C). This proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility of monitoring temperature in vivo using spectral CT during thermal ablation. Intraprocedural temperature feedback may improve treatment margin identification and monitoring of nearby critical structures.

Objective This study proposes analytical and hybrid models for fast and accurate temperature field reconstruction in microwave ablation (MWA), laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), aiming at future real-time clinical use. Materials and methods The proposed approach combines spatial variable transformation and the Laplace transform for time-dependent terms, with finite difference techniques. A 1 mm isotropic grid represents the voxel network. To ensure accurate temperature representation, voxel-averaged temperatures are computed by integrating the solution of the bioheat equation, under spherical symmetry, over voxel bounds. To approximate the elongated ablation zone, the central circumference of the spherical model is repeated and incorporated into a hemisphere-based geometry. Simulated temperature fields are aligned with experimental MRI data using Advanced Normalization Tools (ANTs). All experiments were conducted ex vivo: MWA in bovine liver, and LITT and RFA in agar phantoms. Regions of interest (ROIs) include voxels with significant thermal variation. Heat source parameters are estimated by minimizing the quadratic difference between simulated and MRI-derived temperatures via a spatiotemporal objective function Results Across all modalities, over 83–98% of voxels presented RMSE ≤ 1°C, with few exceeding 10°C. LITT showed the best overall agreement. Total simulation and alignment per repetitions required under 0.3 s, significantly below MRI repetition time, enabling potential intraoperative use. Conclusion Although approximate and not yet ready for in vivo clinical application, the proposed models offer fast, voxel-level temperature reconstructions. Their computational efficiency supports further development toward real-time monitoring and procedural adjustment during thermal ablation.

Abstract. Surface mass balance (SMB) forcing for projections of the future evolution of the Greenland ice sheet with stand-alone modeling approaches has been commonly derived from regional climate models (RCMs) on a fixed ice sheet topography. However, over long time scales, changes in ice sheet geometry become substantial, and using SMB fields that do not account for these changes can introduce non-physical biases. Therefore, conducting projections for the long term evolution and stability of the Greenland ice sheet usually requires a computationally expensive coupled climate-ice sheet modeling setup. In this study we use a SMB remapping procedure to capture the first order feedbacks of the coupled climate-ice sheet system within a computationally efficient stand-alone modeling approach. Following a remapping procedure that was originally developed to apply SMB forcing to a range of modeled steady-state ice sheet geometries, we produce SMB forcing that adapts to the changing ice sheet geometry as it evolves over time. SMB fields from a regional climate model are translated from a function of absolute geographic location to a function of surface elevation, allowing for SMB updates when elevation changes. To reflect the heterogeneous elevation response across the ice sheet we separate the ice sheet into 25 regional drainage basins, which allows for a spatially resolved adjustment of SMB. We evaluate this approach using forcing from multiple emission scenarios from the CMIP6 archive and compare the results with those from standard parameterizations of the SMB–elevation feedback. Our results show that the remapping method better preserves the structure of the ablation zone and reduces non-physical biases compared to conventional SMB–elevation feedback parameterizations, while still leveraging high-quality forcing data.

BackgroundAnti-phase technology, a novel advancement in microwave antennas for percutaneous liver ablations, forms more spherical ablation zones. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) treatment for liver tumors using a microwave antenna equipped with anti-phase technology.Patients and methodsThe study included 92 patients (133 lesions) treated with MWA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases. Of these, nine patients had HCC, and 83 had metastases (46 colorectal and 37 non-colorectal metastases). Retrospective analysis was conducted on patients’ age, sex, pre- and post-procedural laboratory values (white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), tumor and ablation zone dimensions (preprocedure and post-procedure day 1 and months 1, 3, and 6), details of the single-shot MWA procedure (duration, power output), procedure-related complications, and local progression/recurrence during follow-up.ResultsThe technical success rate of MWA was 100%. Ablations were performed at a median power output of 80 watts (range: 50–100), and the mean ablation duration was 5.2 ± 2.1 minutes. Follow-up imaging revealed an ablation zone diameter-to-tumor diameter ratio of 1.63 ± 0.3. Major complications occurred in three patients (3.2%) and included liver abscess (n = 1/92), hemorrhage (n = 1/92), and pleural effusion (n = 1/92). Minor complications were observed in 29 patients (31.5%). The median follow-up time of the patients was 33 (range 10–36) months. The median disease-free survival time was 25 months (95% confidence interval: 21–27). During the 24-month follow-up, local tumor progression occurred in 39 patients (42.4%). Tumor size was identified as an independent risk factor for local progression (p = 0.012).ConclusionsThis study represents the longest follow-up duration and the largest patient cohort for the MWA treatment of liver tumors using anti-phase technology. The results demonstrated high technical success and acceptable local control and complication rates.

Microwave Hyperthermia Ablation (MWHA) is a recent thermal ablation method for managing Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The ablation’s size and effectiveness rely on the medical applicator design (antenna) and energy transfer efficiency. In this study, a comprehensive numerical analysis of MWHA has been conducted using four distinct microwave coaxial antenna (MWCA) designs: a single-tine, a two-tine, a four-tine, and a six-tine configuration. Each design offers adjustable tine length and angle, allowing for precise ablation while minimizing harm to nearby healthy tissue. The MWCA designs are supplied with energy at 2.45 GHz and a power input of 15 W for 10 min. The electromagnetic wave and bioheat transfer physics models have been integrated using COMSOL Multiphysics, with all simulations performed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The model simulation showed a strong correlation with two ex vivo MWHA studies conducted on pig and cow liver tissues. Single and two-tine designs combine teardrop-shaped and spherical ablation shapes with indiscriminate collateral tissue damage. In contrast, the four and six-tine designs produce a concentrated spherical ablation region with minimum harm to nearby healthy tissues. Moreover, the results show that the tine length can be adjusted to control the extent of tissue ablation, and increased power input results in consistent expansion of the ablation zone. However, high microwave power levels, exceeding 30 W, damage healthy tissues surrounding the targeted treatment area. In addition, the results provide intriguing insights into the thermal dynamics of ablation procedures, specifically illustrating that temperature levels rise with increased power input and closeness to the MWCA. These findings guide clinicians in achieving successful outcomes while minimizing the risk of thermal damage during MWHA procedures.

Comparative analysis of heat transfer and thermal damage of living biological tissue incorporating local thermal non-equilibrium, dual-phase-lags, and bioheat equations.

Abstract Rockfalls are an efficient agent of landscape denudation and a crucial but poorly quantified component of the glacier debris supply cascade. Climate change is driving increased rockfall generation as rising air temperatures cause glacier thinning and thawing of permafrost. These processes alter rock slope stress profiles and thermal regimes, leading to greater sediment fluxes in cryospheric systems as landscapes adjust to ice‐free conditions. We used repeat terrestrial laser scans combined with change detection during the summer of 2019 to quantify rockfall activity over a 0.7 km 2 rock wall area along the ablation zone lateral margins of the debris‐covered Miage Glacier, Italy. We detected 2,581 rockfalls spanning eight orders of magnitude (10 −3 –10 4 m 3 ; median 0.021 m 3 ) including an event of about 28 × 10 3 m 3 from a newly deglaciated slope. Large rockfalls (≥10 m 3 ) on lower, glacier‐proximal slopes, whilst infrequent (&lt;1% by count), achieved the most geomorphic work. Most (79%) rockfalls originated within &lt;75 m above the glacier surface (mAG; representing 29% of the survey area); a boundary that corresponds with the Little Ice Age trimline. Some rockwalls exhibited a secondary zone of higher rockfall activity at about 125–150 mAG, revealing a second trimline with a millennial‐scale signal of elevated rock damage possibly associated with ice surface dynamics during or immediately after the Younger Dryas Stadial. Modelled rockfall runout distances were determined in part by path topography: rockfalls originating from lower slopes travelled &lt;100 m horizontally whilst those originating higher could travel up to 650 m, approaching the glacier centreline, reflecting a spatial differential in hillslope‐glacier connectivity that will evolve concurrently with cryospheric degradation in the wider catchment. We show that detailed, short‐term monitoring campaigns can yield novel and useful descriptions of mass movement fluxes and spatial patterns in alpine regions. Expanding our dataset by observing rock walls near the equilibrium line altitude could help bridge the longitudinal gap to existing high elevation inventories to provide a more unified picture of rockfall dynamics in deglaciating catchments.