Title: A numerical analysis of temperature variation in a breast tumour with varying ages

Authors: Sharmila Shrestha; Dil Bahadur Gurung; Gokul K.C.

Addresses: Department of Mathematics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal ' Department of Mathematics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal ' Department of Mathematics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal

Abstract: Breast cells grow abnormally and uncontrollably leading to the development of breast tumours. Tumour size is determined by its age. Tumours develop quickly in the early stages of growth and slowly after 250 days (Gautherie, 1980). New blood vessels sprout for the fulfillment of nutrients and oxygen when a tumour expands. These new vessels increase blood flow and metabolism in tumour than in healthy tissue. This increases the tumour's temperature. At a particular tumour age, the temperature distribution in the breast has been investigated by some researchers Afify and Osman (1988) and Ng and Sudarshan (2001); however, no research has been done throughout breast tumour development. To approximate the temperature change of breast tumour, the finite element approach is applied. The temperature variation of breast tumour is observed over a period of 50 to 700 days at various blood perfusion and metabolic rate. The tumour temperature is maximum at 50 days and drops gradually. Since blood flow and metabolic rate both decline with age, the temperature does not vary as the tumour grows. However, the temperature of breast skin surface is increased with tumour age.

Keywords: tumour age; female breast; temperature variation; FEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMNO.2024.143249

International Journal of Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Optimisation, 2024 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.53 - 68

Received: 18 Sep 2022
Accepted: 11 Oct 2023
Published online: 11 Dec 2024 *

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