Multi-modal Deformable Registration in the Context of Neurosurgical Brain Shift

Supervision: Christoph Hennersperger, Julia Rackerseder, Dr. Benjamin Frisch Prof. Dr. Nassir Navab Student: Stefan Matl

Abstract

Registration of medical images is crucial for bringing data obtained by different sources or at a different time into a common reference frame. Adding real-time requirements to 3D multi-modal registration allows physicians to analyze the combination of medical data both preoperatively as well as intraoperatively, providing additional benefits for the patient and helping to achieve a desirable procedure outcome.

Different applications usually induce several underlying geometrical transformations ranging from global rigid movements to local nonlinear deformations such as brain shift in neurosurgery or compression of liver tissue during respiratory motion. Using a deformable registration to correct local tissue distortions allows for a transformation of preoperative data into an intraoperatively acquired local reference frame.

Preoperative X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data are commonly available for diagnostics and procedure planning, but a multi-modal deformable registration with intraoperative Ultrasound (US) is needed for the successful guidance of minimally invasive procedures.

Within the scope of this thesis, existing registration techniques have been researched and compared and new cost functions for multi-modal deformable registration of 3D US with preoperative CT and MRI data are proposed.