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 treatment combining thermal ablation and embolization.
• This procedure utilizes an exothermic chemical reaction from acid chloride delivery for therapeutic effect.
• Understanding the complex biophysics of thermoembolization is crucial for optimizing patient care, particularly in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a mathematical model for predicting mass transport and embolization in hepatic arteries during thermoembolization.
• To assess the feasibility of using a 1D blood flow model to guide clinical decisions in thermoembolization procedures.
• To evaluate the model's predictive accuracy using in-vivo porcine data.

Main Methods:

• A Hagen-Poiseuille 1D blood flow model was employed to simulate mass transport.
• The model was applied to in-vivo embolization imaging data from three pigs.
• The acid chloride hydrolysis time constant was optimized per subject, and leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was used for accuracy assessment.

Main Results:

• The 1D model achieved a balanced accuracy rate of [Formula: see text] in identifying potential damage locations within the hepatic artery.
• Model optimization and validation were performed using subject-specific data.
• The study indicated that a two-phase flow model might better represent the observed globular behavior during embolization.

Conclusions:

• A 1D blood flow model offers valuable insights into the biophysical processes of thermoembolization.
• The model demonstrates potential for predicting embolization outcomes and informing clinical strategies.
• Further development, potentially incorporating two-phase flow dynamics, could enhance the model's fidelity for clinical application.