Performance of the Emprint and Amica Microwave Ablation Systems in ex vivo Porcine Livers: Sphericity and Reproducibility Versus Size
Pim Hendriks, W. E. M. Berkhout, Charlotte I. Kaanen, Judith H. Sluijter, I. J. Visser, John J. van den Dobbelsteen, Lioe‐Fee de Geus‐Oei, Andrew Webb, Mark C. Burgmans
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the performance of two microwave ablation (MWA) systems regarding ablation volume, ablation shape and variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this ex vivo study, the Emprint and Amica MWA systems were used to ablate porcine livers at 4 different settings of time and power (3 and 5 minutes at 60 and 80 Watt). In total, 48 ablations were analysed for ablation size and shape using Vitrea Advanced Visualization software after acquisition of a 7T MRI scan. RESULTS: Emprint ablations were smaller (11,1 vs. 21,1 mL p < 0.001), more spherical (sphericity index of 0.89 vs. 0.59 p < 0.001) and showed less variability than Amica ablations. In both systems, longer ablation time and higher power resulted in significantly larger ablation volumes. CONCLUSION: Emprint ablations were more spherical, and the results showed a lower variability than those of Amica ablations. This comes at the price of smaller ablation volumes.