Abstract

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Title:: Quantitative measurement and real-time control of ablation margins during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy of liver cancer

Author(s):: LAN Chuansheng1; CHENG Yunzhang1; CAI Keyao2; 1. School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China;2. Shanghai Elephant Medical Technology Company Limited, Shanghai 200120

Keywords:: ; liver cancer; radiofrequency ablation; ablation margin; image registration

Abstract:: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) therapy of liver cancer simplifies the surgical procedure and reduces the injuries caused by surgery. However, during RFA therapy, there may be a non-uniform ablation range, which may lead to an increase in tumor recurrence if liver cancer is not completely ablated or the ablation margin (AM) is insufficient. Herein the measurement and control of AM in RFA of liver cancer are investigated. Firstly, the principle of RFA therapy and the concept of AM are introduced. Then the methods for measuring AM are classified into two-dimensional and three-dimensional measurements, and the importance of real-time control of AM during surgery is evaluated. After introducing the method of real-time control of AM during the surgery and analyzing their advantages and disadvantages, a method of automatically and accurately measuring the minimum AM based on three-dimensional reconstruction fusion image before and after RFA therapy is proposed to achieve the control of AM, thus reducing the recurrence rate of liver cancer. Finally, the methods to achieve accurate measurement of AM in RFA therapy of liver cancer are put forward and the future development of RFA therapy is prospected.