2D-3D fusion imaging (US & CT/MR): Interventional US applied to liver RF ablation

Image guidance is essential in the treatment of liver tumours using percutanous ablative techniques. Apart from careful pre-procedure planning and elaborate post-procedure evaluation, accurate intraprocedure targeting, monitoring, and controlling play a critical role in the success of the technique. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is most commonly performed under ultrasound (U/S) guidance, with computed tomography (CT) guidance being reserved for lesions inconspicuous on US. However, there are occasions when the liver lesion is only optimally visualized on contrast-enhanced CT, making targeting and monitoring difficult due to lack of real-time imaging guidance. In this scenario, it would be desirable to co-register information from different imaging modalities (e.g., US and CT) and such multimodality matching have been utilized in nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, and neurosurgery.