this　paper　gives　a　comparison　of　results　obtained　from　numerical　simulation　and　experimental　measurements　made　in　vitro　pig　liver　with　a　water-cooled　microwave　ablation　antenna.　An　axis-symmetric　finite　element　model　was　developed　to　simulate　the　temperature　field　based　on　the　pennes　bioheat　equation,　in　which　the　convection　heat　transfer　of　the　cooling　water　was　involved.　The　temperature　curves　and　ablation　area　in　the　experiments　corresponded　well　with　simulated　ones　in　vitro.　The　results　demonstrated　that　computer-aided　simulation　of　microwave　thermal　distribution　is　an　accurate　and　reliable　method　which　can　instruct　the　clinical　operation　and　surgical　planning　of　microwave　ablation　in　practice.　©　2008　IEEE.