Usefulness of 3D slicer for the planning and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment using FUS

FUS is a noninvasive treatment method, as complete coagulation necrosis is achieved without the insertion of any instruments. However, FUS monitor has the poor visualization because of the presence of the multi-reflections, rib shadows and the emergence of the hyperecho after the FUS treatment. 3D Slicer imaging is a diagnostic imaging support system that can provide the same cross-sectional MPR images on the same monitor screen using DICOM volume data from MRI which are not influenced by those artifacts. The purpose of this study was to utilize an interventional navigation system designed for FUS assisted by 3D Slicer was proposed, and a phantom study was carried out to assess the proposed system.