Pre-and intra-operative planning and simulation of percutaneous tumor ablation

Abstract

We developed a software tool for pre-operative simulation and planning, and intra-operative guidance, of minimally invasive tumor ablation, including radiofrequency-, laser- and cryo-therapy. This tool provides a pre- and intra-operative optimization of the treatment plan, in order to avoid dangerous probe trajectories, undertreatment of the tumor, and excessive ablation of healthy tissues. The simulation is performed within a virtual operating-room consisting in essence of the patient’s segmented anatomy from pre- or intraoperatively acquired MR scans. Virtual probes can be placed into this scene and at the formation of ablated tissue at their tips can be simulated. To verify the simulated treatment plans, we introduced an objective quality measure which also enables a semi-automated optimal probe placement. To show the use and to underline the importance of our tool, we investigated a cryo-therapy case which did not succeed. We show that our software would have predicted the failure of the chosen treatment plan and how it could have increased the efficacy of the procedure.