Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning

Abstract Background Cryoablation simulation based on Finite Element Method (FEM) can facilitate preoperative planning for liver tumors. However, it has limited application in clinical practice due to its time-consuming process and improvable accuracy. We aimed to propose a FEM-based simulation model...

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Main Authors: Shengwei Li, Yumeng Zhang, Fanyu Zhou, Sheng Xu, Yufeng Wang, Lin Cheng, Zhixin Bie, Bin Li, Xiao-Guang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03817-y
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author Shengwei Li
Yumeng Zhang
Fanyu Zhou
Sheng Xu
Yufeng Wang
Lin Cheng
Zhixin Bie
Bin Li
Xiao-Guang Li
author_facet Shengwei Li
Yumeng Zhang
Fanyu Zhou
Sheng Xu
Yufeng Wang
Lin Cheng
Zhixin Bie
Bin Li
Xiao-Guang Li
author_sort Shengwei Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cryoablation simulation based on Finite Element Method (FEM) can facilitate preoperative planning for liver tumors. However, it has limited application in clinical practice due to its time-consuming process and improvable accuracy. We aimed to propose a FEM-based simulation model for rapid and accurate prediction of the iceball size during the hepatic cryofreezing cycle. Methods A 3D simulation model was presented to predict the iceball size (frozen isotherm boundaries) in biological liver tissues undergoing cryofreezing based on the Pennes bioheat equation. The simulated results for three cryoprobe types were evaluated in the ex vivo porcine livers and clinical data. In ex vivo experiments, CT-based measurements of iceball size were fitted as growth curves and compared to the simulated results. Eight patient cases of CT-guided percutaneous hepatic cryoablation procedures were retrospectively collected for clinical validation. The Dice Score Coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) were used to measure the similarity between simulation and ground truth segmentation. Results The measurements in the ex vivo experiments showed a close similarity between the simulated and experimental iceball growth curves for three cryoprobe models, with all mean absolute error<2.9 mm and coefficient of determination>0.85. In the clinical validation, the simulation model achieved high accuracy with a DSC of 0.87 ± 0.03 and an HD of 2.0 ± 0.4 mm. The average computational time was 23.2 s for all simulations. Conclusion Our simulation model achieves accurate iceball size predictions within a short time during hepatic cryoablation and potentially allows for the implementation of the preoperative cryoablation planning system.
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spelling doaj-art-02ec1de6adb649199880ac921da5295b2025-08-20T02:12:06ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-04-0125111410.1186/s12876-025-03817-yIceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planningShengwei Li0Yumeng Zhang1Fanyu Zhou2Sheng Xu3Yufeng Wang4Lin Cheng5Zhixin Bie6Bin Li7Xiao-Guang Li8Minimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesHygea Medical TechnologyHygea Medical TechnologyMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesMinimally Invasive Tumor Therapy Center, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Cryoablation simulation based on Finite Element Method (FEM) can facilitate preoperative planning for liver tumors. However, it has limited application in clinical practice due to its time-consuming process and improvable accuracy. We aimed to propose a FEM-based simulation model for rapid and accurate prediction of the iceball size during the hepatic cryofreezing cycle. Methods A 3D simulation model was presented to predict the iceball size (frozen isotherm boundaries) in biological liver tissues undergoing cryofreezing based on the Pennes bioheat equation. The simulated results for three cryoprobe types were evaluated in the ex vivo porcine livers and clinical data. In ex vivo experiments, CT-based measurements of iceball size were fitted as growth curves and compared to the simulated results. Eight patient cases of CT-guided percutaneous hepatic cryoablation procedures were retrospectively collected for clinical validation. The Dice Score Coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) were used to measure the similarity between simulation and ground truth segmentation. Results The measurements in the ex vivo experiments showed a close similarity between the simulated and experimental iceball growth curves for three cryoprobe models, with all mean absolute error<2.9 mm and coefficient of determination>0.85. In the clinical validation, the simulation model achieved high accuracy with a DSC of 0.87 ± 0.03 and an HD of 2.0 ± 0.4 mm. The average computational time was 23.2 s for all simulations. Conclusion Our simulation model achieves accurate iceball size predictions within a short time during hepatic cryoablation and potentially allows for the implementation of the preoperative cryoablation planning system.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03817-yCryoablationIceball simulationFinite element methodLiver tumorPreoperative planning
spellingShingle Shengwei Li
Yumeng Zhang
Fanyu Zhou
Sheng Xu
Yufeng Wang
Lin Cheng
Zhixin Bie
Bin Li
Xiao-Guang Li
Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
BMC Gastroenterology
Cryoablation
Iceball simulation
Finite element method
Liver tumor
Preoperative planning
title Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
title_full Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
title_fullStr Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
title_full_unstemmed Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
title_short Iceball growth 3D simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
title_sort iceball growth 3d simulation model based on finite element method for hepatic cryoablation planning
topic Cryoablation
Iceball simulation
Finite element method
Liver tumor
Preoperative planning
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-03817-y
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