Simulating laser heat therapy for skin tumors

What is it about?

Laser therapy can treat superficial skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma by heating and destroying tumor cells with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. However, finding the right laser settings (power, duration) is challenging because direct temperature measurements inside the body are not possible during treatment. This study used computer simulations (COMSOL Multiphysics) to model how CO₂ laser energy spreads as heat through layered skin containing a small tumor. The model showed that with optimized parameters—such as 3 W/cm² for 50 seconds—the tumor center reached ~48 °C (enough to kill cancer cells), while nearby healthy tissue stayed below 40 °C. This validated simulation framework can help clinicians plan safer, more effective laser treatments without costly and time-consuming trial-and-error experiments.

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Why is it important?

This work provides a numerically verified, reproducible modeling framework that bridges the gap between laser physics and clinical treatment planning for superficial tumors. Key unique aspects: Integration of a realistic multilayered skin geometry with a tumor-specific domain. Quantitative parametric sensitivity analysis of laser intensity, exposure time, and tissue optical properties. Demonstration of selective tumor heating (up to 48 °C) while healthy tissue remains near physiological temperature. The model is timely because computational medicine and personalized laser oncology are rapidly advancing. It offers a low-cost, safe, and repeatable alternative to animal/human trials for parameter optimization, directly supporting preclinical planning and medical device development.

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