Technical Approach for Coupling Treatment Planning with Navigation Systems for Electroporation-Based Treatments

Electroporation-based treatments provide highly effective local treatment for a variety of tumors. For deep seated tumors in the head and neck region, the complex anatomy and difficult access often warrants the use of single long needle electrodes for which a treatment plan provides the information on optimal voltages and electrode positions in the highly constrained environment. The feasibility of such treatments can be enhanced by use of a navigation system for the positioning of electrodes. Treatment planning is performed using finite element method to compute electric fields in the tumor and surrounding tissues and using this to optimize delivered voltages. Navigation systems consist of optical tracking system, which tracks an instrument in space to introduce it along predefined trajectories. This paper aims to present a technical method for coupling treatment planning with a navigation device and using that to treat tumors in the head and neck area illustrated with a case of electrochemotherapy treatment of tumors in the neck and in the left parotid gland.