The clinical research team at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) collaborated with Thirona to assess the clinical value of AI-enabled 3D visualization for surgical planning decision-making.
Building on an earlier visibility study, the project aimed to determine whether these advanced methodologies optimize preoperative planning in thoracic surgery and enhance surgical precision.
This retrospective study included 25 lung cancer patients and compared conventional 2D CT scans against 2D scans supplemented by 3D reconstructions. Two expert surgeons conducted a comparative assessment to evaluate the added value of 3D visualization in surgical decision-making.
Thirona delivered advanced segmentation analyses forming the foundation of precise, actionable 3D models, enabling quantitative CT-based assessment of airway, lobar, and vascular structures for in-depth characterization of the region of interest.
For the target lobe containing the tumor, segmental-level segmentation was applied to support precise delineation of anatomical boundaries. While 3D visualization improved the assessment of all structures, the most pronounced qualitative benefit was observed in the evaluation of lung segments.
By enabling integration of high-resolution 3D visualization into the surgical workflow, this study demonstrates that precise mapping of oncological margins is more achievable compared to conventional 2D imaging.
