Optimization of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy in the Liver

SIRTOP is a project funded by Fraunhofer that aims to optimize the planning, guidance, and follow-up for radioembolization of the liver.
In this cancer therapy, a dedicated analysis of tumor load for dosimetry and catheter placement is mandatory. Multimodal imaging data is acquired and supports both planning and postoperative monitoring. In SIRTOP, research and software development focuses on the following aims:

  • Automation for global and local SIRT planning and dosimetry
  • Development of new evaluation means and software to combine modalities to understanding the SIRT process and apply this knowledge to improve the planning and therapy
  • Support the intervention itself in the angio suite.

Research Areas

 

Segmentation

Accurate liver and tumor volumetry is a prerequisite for dosimetry. Fully automatic algorithms could notably decrease the SIRT planning time.

 

 

Dosimetry

Novel approaches allow determining doses inside normal liver and tumor tissue. This is an essential step for successful radioembolization.

 

Interventional Support

Provide information from planning data such as tumor and vessel segmentations during the intervention to support the clinicians.

 

Multimodality

A variety of morphological and functional images is fused during therapy planning, intervention, and assessment.

 

Liver Function

Functional Liver MRI helps planning and evaluating SIRT interventions, including liver health status and tumor vitality before and after treatment.

Clinical Evaluation

Our clinical project partner is the Klinikum Dresden-Friedrichstadt (Prof. Abolmaali). Further medical input is provided by additional clinical experts worldwide.