It was a collaboration between intellect and imagination that enabled the development of the “virtual liver” which experts claim to be the most promising innovation in liver disease treatment.

Dubbed the “virtual liver,” this new technology is a breakthrough in diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. It is designed to provide surgeons with accurate information needed to carry out successful tumor operations, and ensure smooth recovery of patients.

A Virtual liver will improve diagnosis and treatment around the world

The virtual liver was developed through the PASSPORT (Patient-Specific Simulation and Pre-Operative Realistic Training) research project funded by the EU. The research team is made up of surgeons and scientists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Switzerland.

This technology makes use of precise medical images of the liver acquired through radiology, and sent online across the web to a PASSPORT software.  PASSPORT uses an open-source online software that allows surgeons to work together virtually and collaborate. These images and analyses aid physicians in making important decisions regarding their patients’ surgical procedures.

The PASSPORT project was launched in 2008 as a part of the “Virtual Physiological Human” Network of Excellence (VPH NoE). The goal of these endeavors is to advance research in biomedical simulation of the human body. These projects were intended to maximize the potential of medical technology;  improving the lives of  people living with liver health challenges.

Liver cancer remains a prevalent threat worldwide. Liver transplant is the most sought-after treatment for this disease, but only a small number of livers are available for surgery,  making it almost impossible for the majority of liver cancer patients to undergo a liver transplant.   The next best option is to have the tumor surgically removed — an intricate and delicate process. Using data from the “virtual liver,” it becomes easier for surgeons to identify the precise location of a tumor, thus guiding their decisions on where and how to safely operate and remove the masses.

With the success of this project, doctors from around the globe will gain greater access to accurate and cost-effective means to diagnose liver cancer patients and prepare their surgical options.

By Toni Bacala