Methods of monitoring thermal ablation of soft tissue tumors - A comprehensive review.Thermal ablation is a form of hyperthermia in which oncologic control can be achieved by briefly inducing elevated temperatures, typically in the range 50-80°C, within a target tissue.  Ablation modalities include high intensity focused ultrasound, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and laser interstitial thermal therapy which are all capable of generating confined zones of tissue destruction, resulting in fewer complications than conventional cancer therapies.  The following section outlines the state-of-the-art in thermal dosimetry which includes interstitial thermal probes and radiologic imaging.  Thermal dosimetry must be coupled with a thermal damage model as outlined in Section 4.  In the absence of a reliable thermal model, the utility of thermal monitoring is greatly reduced.  In summary, monitoring thermal ablation is critical for consistent clinical success and many promising technologies are under development but an optimal solution has yet to achieve widespread adoption.
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