Computational Fluid Dynamics in Hepatic Arterial Treatments

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a pivotal tool in planning and optimising hepatic arterial interventions, particularly transarterial radioembolization and chemoembolization. By solving the Navier–Stokes equations in patient-specific arterial geometries derived from imaging, CFD enables the prediction of blood flow patterns, pressure distributions and microsphere trajectories. Such insights inform catheter placement, injection velocity and particle design to maximise tumour targeting while minimising non-target embolisation. Developments in mesh generation, boundary condition modelling and multiscale coupling have improved the fidelity of simulations, supporting personalised treatment planning. In silico studies now routinely explore the impact of flow waveform variations, arterial tree truncation and surrogate modelling techniques to reduce computational cost. Collectively, these advances are fostering a shift from empirical dose delivery to physics-based, patient-specific strategies that hold promise for improved outcomes in liver cancer therapy.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of correlating CFD-predicted microsphere distributions with in vivo imaging, validating the approach for patient-specific planning. In a proof-of-concept investigation, three-dimensional hemodynamic models incorporating actual infusion parameters yielded predictions of microsphere deposition that closely matched PET/CT measurements post-radioembolization. The average discrepancy per liver segment was within a few percentage points, suggesting that CFD can reliably forecast treatment delivery. This work represents a significant step towards integrating simulation into clinical workflows, enabling clinicians to adjust infusion protocols in silico before the procedure and thereby optimise tumour dose while sparing healthy parenchyma.

Computational Fluid Dynamics in Hepatic Arterial Treatments publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in computational fluid dynamics in hepatic arterial treatments across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD): A numerical methodology for solving fluid flow equations in complex geometries to predict velocity, pressure and particle transport.

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE): A minimally invasive treatment that delivers radioactive microspheres via the hepatic artery to irradiate liver tumours.

Surrogate model: A simplified statistical or machine-learning approximation of a complex simulation used to estimate outputs with reduced computational cost.

Sobol sensitivity index: A quantitative measure of how variation in each model input contributes to the overall output uncertainty.

Boundary conditions: Prescribed flow or pressure profiles at simulation inlets and outlets that represent the influence of downstream vasculature.

Hepatic arterial tree: The branched network of hepatic arteries supplying blood to the liver, reconstructed from medical imaging for simulation.

References

1. Transarterial radioembolization: a systematic review on gaining control over the parameters that influence microsphere distribution. Drug Delivery (2023).
2. Adaptive design of experiments to fit surrogate Gaussian process regression models allows fast sensitivity analysis of the input waveform for patient-specific 3D CFD models of liver radioembolization. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine (2024).
3. Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Liver Radioembolization: A Review. CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology (2021).
4. A proof-of-concept study of the in-vivo validation of a computational fluid dynamics model of personalized radioembolization. Scientific Reports (2021).
5. Computational Modeling of the Liver Arterial Blood Flow for Microsphere Therapy: Effect of Boundary Conditions. Bioengineering (2020).
6. CFD Simulations of Radioembolization: A Proof-of-Concept Study on the Impact of the Hepatic Artery Tree Truncation. Mathematics (2021).
7. A Hybrid Particle-Flow CFD Modeling Approach in Truncated Hepatic Arterial Trees for Liver Radioembolization: A Patient-specific Case Study. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2022).