Evaluation of the Heat Sink Effect After Transarterial Embolization When Performed in Combination with Thermal Ablation of the Liver in a Rabbit Model.

In non-perfused tissue simulating tumor, RFA demonstrated modest enhancement of temperature conduction, whereas MWA did not. Embolization of normal liver did not affect RFA or MWA. Findings suggest that heat sink mitigation plays a limited role with combination embolization-ablation therapies, albeit more with RFA than MWA.