Exploring software navigation tools for liver tumour angiography: a scoping review
Nathan Brunskill1, John Robinson2, Don Nocum1,2
1San Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences
|February 2, 2024
Summary
Software navigation in interventional radiology improves liver cancer treatment by enhancing vessel identification, image quality, and tumour targeting. These advancements lead to more efficient procedures, reduced radiation, and better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Radiology
- Medical Software Development
- Oncology
Background:
- Liver cancer is a significant global health challenge requiring advanced interventions.
- Software navigation is emerging as a key technology in interventional radiology for liver tumour procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use and effectiveness of software navigation in interventional radiology for liver tumour procedures.
- To identify the benefits and limitations of current software applications in this field.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Literature from 2013-2023 was sourced from MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and Embase.
- Twenty-one articles focusing on liver cancer, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and software intervention were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Software applications demonstrated significant benefits, including improved vessel identification (up to 43% reduction in non-target embolisation) and enhanced image quality (20% improvement).
- Specific software types facilitated efficient tumour targeting, precise needle placement, and reduced side effects.
- Overall integration led to shorter procedures, decreased radiation exposure, and reduced contrast media usage.
Conclusions:
- Software navigation is an innovative, though underexplored, tool for liver tumour interventions.
- Integration enhances procedural efficiency, operator confidence, and patient outcomes.
- Further research is needed to standardize and optimize the clinical use of these software tools.
