CT Guided Liver Tumor Biopsy Framework

Abstract

Liver tumor biopsy is the first step of a liver cancer diagnosis. Accuracy of liver cancer diagnosis depends upon how precisely the sample is collected from the right location. The ultrasound-guided biopsy procedure is subjective and painful to patient. CT guided biopsy framework assists medical experts in planning biopsy needle path before performing the procedure. In this framework, first, CT image acquired, and 3D models are created for liver, skin, liver tumor, bone, and liver blood vessels using 3Dirac CT datasets. Second, an algorithm designed for biopsy needle insertion path recommendation. At the last 3D simulation generated. Needle insertion starts from the skin and ends at the tumor site. The recommended needle path does not carry bone and major blood vessels. The designed framework suggests two possible paths that medical experts can select and allow to make a further modification in that path. 3D simulation of needle insertion shown to medical experts for the evaluation. According to their comments, methods are producing promising results. The proposed framework may utilize for teaching-learning procedures for junior medical experts. Automatic biopsy needle path recommendations are perquisites for generating augmented reality tools and robotic biopsy systems.