Measurement and Prediction of Thermal Behavior and Acute Assessment of Injury in a Pig Model of Renal Cryosurgery

Purpose: To analyze in vivo end temperatures and histologic injury in a standardized cryo-iceball using a porcine kidney model in order to establish the threshold temperature for tissue ablation. To evaluate the ability to predict end temperatures using a thermal finite element model. Materials and Methods: A single freeze/thaw cryolesion was created in five pig kidneys and the temperature history recorded. End temperature was calculated using a thermal finite element model. The threshold temperature for tissue injury was established by directly correlating end temperature and histologic injury. Results: Reproducible geometry and temperature profiles of the cryo-iceball were found. End temperature could be accurately predicted through thermal modeling, and correlation with histologic injury revealed a threshold temperature of -16.1°C for complete tissue ablation. Conclusion: Thermal modeling may accurately predict end temperature within a cryo-iceball. Provided threshold temperatures for tissue destructio...