3D intra-operative ultrasound and MR image guidance: pursuing an ultrasound-based management of brainshift to enhance neuronavigation

Marco Riva, Christoph Hennersperger, Fausto Milletari, Amin Katouzian, Federico Pessina, Benjamín Gutiérrez-Becker, Antonella Castellano, Nassir Navab, Lorenzo Bello

Abstract: Brainshift is still a major issue in neuronavigation. Incorporating intra-operative ultrasound (iUS) with advanced registration algorithms within the surgical workflow is regarded as a promising approach for a better understanding and management of brainshift. This work is intended to (1) provide three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound reconstructions specifically for brain imaging in order to detect brainshift observed intra-operatively, (2) evaluate a novel iterative intra-operative ultrasound-based deformation correction framework, and (3) validate the performance of the proposed image-registration-based deformation estimation in a clinical environment.