Ice ball size and temperature change during cryoablation in a lard and an ethiodized-oil tissue phantom

This in vitro study evaluates the effects of varying concentrations of lard and ethiodized-oil (Lipiodol) on temperature changes and ice ball diameters during cryotherapy. A phantom was constructed using six glass bottles, one filled with 0.9 % normal saline (NS) and the others containing agar phantoms mixed with different proportions of lard and NS (0 %, 10 %, 40 %, 70 %, and 100 % lard). Similarly, a phantom was prepared with ethiodized-oil. Six cryoprobes were inserted into the bottles, and freezing was initiated simultaneously, with temperature readings recorded every 10 s over a 9-min freezing period. CT scans were performed before freezing and at 3, 6, and 9 min post-freezing to measure ice ball diameters, with each phantom undergoing a single freezing cycle. Phantoms with lard or ethiodized-oil showed increased freezing rates with higher concentrations, stabilizing at approximately −140 to −150 °C. The largest ice ball diameters were observed in the 0 % and 10 % lard and ethiodized-oil phantoms. Negative correlations were identified between ice ball diameter and lard concentration at 3, 6, and 9 min (R² = 0.910, 0.838, 0.778; p = 0.008, 0.019, 0.030), as well as between ice ball diameter and ethiodized-oil concentration at 6 min (R² = 0.881; p = 0.040). These results suggest that distinct concentrations of lard and ethiodized-oil significantly influence the temporal temperature changes and ice ball dimensions during cryotherapy.