title: Mathematical 3D modelling and sensitivity analysis of multipolar radiofrequency ablation in the spine.
abstract: Radiofrequency ablation is a valuable tool in the treatment of many diseases, especially cancer. However, controlled heating up to apoptosis of the desired target tissue in complex situations, e.g. in the spine, is challenging and requires experienced interventionalists. For such challenging situations a mathematical model of radiofrequency ablation allows to understand, improve and optimise the outcome of the medical therapy. The main contribution of this work is the derivation of a tailored, yet expandable mathematical model, for the simulation, analysis, planning and control of radiofrequency ablation in complex situations. The dynamic model consists of partial differential equations that describe the potential and temperature distribution during intervention. To account for multipolar operation, time-dependent boundary conditions are introduced. Spatially distributed parameters, like tissue conductivity and blood perfusion, allow to describe the complex 3D environment representing diverse involved tissue types in the spine. To identify the key parameters affecting the prediction quality of the model, the influence of the parameters on the temperature distribution is investigated via a sensitivity analysis. Simulations underpin the quality of the derived model and the analysis approach. The proposed modelling and analysis schemes set the basis for intervention planning, state- and parameter estimation, and control.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: janine.matschek@ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matschek
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bullinger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Haeseler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuroradiology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skalej
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Systems Theory and Automatic Control, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: rolf.findeisen@ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Findeisen
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Mathematical modelling; Multipolar radiofrequency ablation; Sensitivity analysis; Spinal column