Development of an open source software module for enhanced visualization during MR-guided interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy
This addresses the problem of improving accuracy and guidance for physicians performing brachytherapy in gynecologic cancer patients, representing an incremental advancement in medical imaging software.
The study tackled the challenge of precise catheter insertion in interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy by developing an open-source software module for real-time visualization using intra-operative MRI, enabling virtual needle placement to assist physicians during the procedure.
In 2010, gynecologic malignancies were the 4th leading cause of death in U.S. women and for patients with extensive primary or recurrent disease, treatment with interstitial brachytherapy may be an option. However, brachytherapy requires precise insertion of hollow catheters with introducers into the tumor in order to eradicate the cancer. In this study, a software solution to assist interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy has been investigated and the software has been realized as an own module under (3D) Slicer, which is a free open source software platform for (translational) biomedical research. The developed research module allows on-time processing of intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) data over a direct DICOM connection to a MR scanner. Afterwards follows a multi-stage registration of CAD models of the medical brachytherapy devices (template, obturator) to the patient's MR images, enabling the virtual placement of interstitial needles to assist the physician during the intervention.