Application of a medical image processing system in liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
At present, imaging is used not only to show the form of images, but also to make three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions and visual simulations based on original data to guide clinical surgery. This study aimed to assess the use of a medical image-processing system in liver transplantation surgery.


METHODS
The data of abdominal 64-slice spiral CT scan were collected from 200 healthy volunteers and 37 liver cancer patients in terms of hepatic arterial phase, portal phase, and hepatic venous phase. A 3D model of abdominal blood vessels including the abdominal aorta system, portal vein system, and inferior vena cava system was reconstructed by an abdominal image processing system to identify vascular variations. Then, a 3D model of the liver was reconstructed in terms of hepatic segmentation and liver volume was calculated. The FreeForm modeling system with a PHANTOM force feedback device was used to simulate the real liver transplantation environment, in which the total process of liver transplantation was completed.


RESULTS
The reconstructed model of the abdominal blood vessels and the liver was clearly demonstrated to be three-dimensionally consistent with the anatomy of the liver, in which the variations of abdominal blood vessels were identified and liver segmentation was performed digitally. In the model, liver transplantation was simulated subsequently, and different modus operandi were selected successfully.


CONCLUSIONS
The digitized medical image processing system may be valuable for liver transplantation.
Fang
Chi-Hua
CH
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. fangch_dr@126.com
Li
Xiao-Feng
XF
Li
Zhou
Z
Fan
Ying-Fang
YF
Lu
Chao-Min
CM
Huang
Yan-Peng
YP
Peng
Feng-Ping
FP
D001808:Blood Vessels; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed