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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
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Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy
Published on: June 18, 2020
Visualization support for the planning of hepatic needle placement
Christian Schumann1, Jennifer Bieberstein, Stefan Braunewell
1Fraunhofer MEVIS - Institute for Medical Image Computing, Universitaetsallee 29, 28359, Bremen, Germany. christian.schumann@mevis.fraunhofer.de
Summary
This study introduces a new visualization method to improve planning for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The tool helps radiologists identify safer needle paths, reducing planning time and enhancing safety in liver interventions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Interventional Radiology
- Computer-Aided Diagnosis
Background:
- Percutaneous image-guided interventions require precise needle placement.
- Current 2D slice-based planning is challenging for non-axial access paths.
- Complex planning is time-consuming and may increase risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a visualization method to aid in planning percutaneous interventions.
- To highlight suboptimal access paths directly within familiar 2D imaging slices.
- To maintain the established radiologist workflow while improving planning efficiency and safety.
Main Methods:
- A risk structure map is computed using GPU-accelerated volume rendering based on target points and segmented risk structures.
- This map is projected onto 2D pre-interventional CT/MR slices.
- The visualization aids users in selecting safe, linear access paths by defining a second point on the 2D slices.
Main Results:
- In a study of 20 liver radiofrequency ablation cases, 55% of cases showed supported access path choices by the visualization.
- The visualization support was rated an average of 2.2 by experienced radiologists.
- Significant planning duration reductions of 50-54% were observed for two radiologists.
Conclusions:
- The proposed visualization accelerates access path planning for liver radiofrequency ablation.
- It effectively differentiates between safer and less safe paths, improving intervention planning.
- This method enhances both efficiency and safety in image-guided procedures.
