1D Thermoembolization Model Using CT Imaging Data for Porcine Liver.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Medical Imaging
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Thermoembolization is an innovative, minimally invasive therapy combining thermal ablation and embolization.
• Understanding the biophysical complexities of thermoembolization is crucial for clinical application, particularly in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Mathematical modeling offers a pathway to comprehend these complex processes and support clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a mathematical model for predicting mass transport and embolization in hepatic arteries during thermoembolization.
• To utilize a Hagen-Poiseuille 1D blood flow model for analyzing endovascular procedures.

Main Methods:

• A Hagen-Poiseuille 1D blood flow model was applied to in-vivo porcine hepatic artery imaging data.
• The hydrolysis time constant for the acid chloride reaction was optimized for each subject.
• Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was employed to assess the model's predictive accuracy.

Main Results:

• The 1D flow model achieved a balanced accuracy of 66.8% in predicting potential embolization locations within the hepatic artery.
• The model successfully identified possible sites of vascular damage.

Conclusions:

• The developed mathematical model provides initial insights into the vascular transport phenomena associated with thermoembolization.
• This modeling approach can aid clinicians in understanding and predicting the outcomes of thermoembolization procedures.