An agarose based phantom embedded in an in vitro liver tissue to simulate tumors: First experience

The aim of this work is the development of a tumor phantom to be inserted in an in vitro tissue. This combination of phantom and fresh tissue can be used to evaluate and verify the effects of hyperthermia equipments during the treatments. The tumor phantom was characterized and modified to achieve the ultrasonic and dielectric properties of a real tumor. The tumor phantom components were agarose, ethanol, tri-distilled water and chloride of sodium. The permittivity and conductivity values were 73.68 ± 0.78 and 0.31 ± 0.025 S/m @ 225 MHz respectively and the speed of sound and attenuation were 1588.28 ± 15.72 m/s and 1.28 ± 0.045 dB/(cm MHz) at 20°C.