title: Microwave ablation compared with radiofrequency ablation for breast tissue in an ex vivo bovine udder model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of microwave (MW) ablation with radiofrequency (RF) ablation for treating breast tissue in a nonperfused ex vivo model of healthy bovine udder tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  MW ablations were performed at power outputs of 25W, 35W, and 45W using a 915-MHz frequency generator and a 2-cm active tip antenna. RF ablations were performed with a bipolar RF system with 2- and 3-cm active tip electrodes. Tissue temperatures were continuously monitored during ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean short-axis diameters of the coagulation zones were 1.34 ± 0.14, 1.45 ± 0.13, and 1.74 ± 0.11 cm for MW ablation at outputs of 25W, 35W, and 45W. For RF ablation, the corresponding values were 1.16 ± 0.09 and 1.26 ± 0.14 cm with electrodes having 2- and 3-cm active tips, respectively. The mean coagulation volumes were 2.27 ± 0.65, 2.85 ± 0.72, and 4.45 ± 0.47 cm(3) for MW ablation at outputs of 25W, 35W, and 45W and 1.18 ± 0.30 and 2.29 ± 0.55 cm(3) got RF ablation with 2- and 3-cm electrodes, respectively. MW ablations at 35W and 45W achieved significantly longer short-axis diameters than RF ablations (P < 0.05). The highest tissue temperature was achieved with MW ablation at 45W (P < 0.05). On histological examination, the extent of the ablation zone in MW ablations was less affected by tissue heterogeneity than that in RF ablations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MW ablation appears to be advantageous with respect to the volume of ablation and the shape of the margin of necrosis compared with RF ablation in an ex vivo bovine udder.
authors.affiliation: Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz-Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Germany. toshihir@bf6.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Isfort
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braunschweig
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Penzkofer
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruners
authors.forename: Kimihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kichikawa
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Rode
authors.forename: Andreas H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahnken
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000601:surgery*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023421:Models, Animal