Measurements of Specific Heat Capacities Required to Build Computer Simulation Models for Laser Thermotherapy of Brain Lesions.
Laser interstitial thermotherapy has widely available. The current treatment, however, often relies on the experience of the treatment provider. To improve the accuracy of the laser treatment system in the future, it is necessary to construct simulation systems with physical properties such as heat conduction as a reference. However, no studies to measure a thermophysical property, of brain tumors have yet been conducted. Therefore, the present study was performed to measure specific heat capacities. The specific heat capacities of tissues obtained from two willed bodies and eight specimens of brain tumors were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. In normal brain tissues, changes of specific heat capacity were minimal as the tissue was heated from 37°C to 61°C. Conversely, in brain tumor tissues, changes of specific heat capacity between 37°C and 43°C were substantial, and the difference in the rate of change of specific heat capacity between brain tumor tissues and normal brain tissues was significant. The specific heat measurements of brain tissues and brain tumor tissues showed that changes of specific heat capacity between 37°C and 43°C were greater in brain tumor than in normal brain tissues.