Fast GPU-based CT reconstruction applied in ablation treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an image visualization system based on graphic processing unit (GPU) hardware acceleration for clinical use in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) interventional planning.


METHODS
We developed a liver tumor planning tool to assist the physician in providing patient-specific analysis and visualization. We employed a spatial distance computation algorithm to determine the spatial location of tumors and their relation to the main hepatic vessels. GPU hardware acceleration was implemented for rapid calculation of the spatial distance from the tumor surface to the surrounding vascular territories.


RESULTS
The algorithm for spatial distance provided an accurate minimum value for the distance from the tumor surface to the surrounding duct system as well as the region of interest (ROI). Analyzing the data (mean CPU time = 43.14 ± 29.34; mean GPU time = 0.41 ± 0.38) using an independent samples t-test, the result showed a remarkable difference (p < 0.001). Thus, GPU hardware acceleration performed the distance arithmetic at higher rates than conventional CPUs.


CONCLUSIONS
The visual assistance tool performs as an intuitive and objective module in clinical cases, and is expected to help physicians achieve a more reliable treatment in liver tumor patients. As such, we believe it represents an improvement in image guided preoperative planning.
Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Chinese PLA General Hospital , Beijing , China.
Tong
T
Lu
Yunna
Y
Sun
Chenglong
C
Lei
Yinyan
Y
Li
Fangyi
F
Liu
Ping
P
Liang
Wenbo
W
Wu
Jin
J
Xue
D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003196:Computer Graphics; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed