Clinical Intervention Modelling, Planning and Proof for Ablation Cancer Treatment

Patients with colorectal liver metastases are only suited for curative surgical
intervention in 10-25% of cases. This is due to several criteria for
resectability, such as, the size of the tumors, reserve liver parenchya,
comorbidity and extent of livercirrosis.
In order to increase the number of patients, eligible for curative treatment,
additional minimal invasive treatments have been developed, of which
radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the most researched and used. This treatment
induced coagulation of the targeted lesion, using radiofrequency, and is
currently commonly used in the world.
However, the problem with this procedure is the lack and inability of real-time
monitoring during ablation. This can cause either under-treatment or
over-treatment of the lesion.

This research aims to evaluate a simulation software, which is capable to
estimate the expected ablation region. This can, in the future, be used to
optimize the treatment.

Comparison of the size and shape of the ablation zone of liver tumors with the
simulation results of the CllnicIMPPACT software environment

15 patients will prospectively be included in this study. Patients will receive
an additional perfusion CT scan combined with their standard 1 week before
treatment planning CT scan. Following this CT, patients will receive ablation
of their tumors using RFA and will receive standard care follow-up.

Patients undergo only one form of burden/ risk during this research:

During the standard preoperative planning CT, instead of a 4 phase CT liver,
patients will receive an combined scan with perfusion and 4 phase.
The added amount of radiation is comparable to the normal preoperative planning
CT.