Retrospective evaluation of a novel ultrasound-based imaging analysis software for predicting radiofrequency ablation areas.

Objective: This study aimed to introduce and evaluate a novel software-based system, BioTrace, designed for real-time monitoring of thermal ablation tissue damage during image-guided radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: BioTrace utilizes a proprietary algorithm to analyze the temporo-spatial behavior of thermal gas bubble activity during ablation, as seen in conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging. Its predictive accuracy was assessed by comparing the ablation zones it predicted with those annotated by radiologists using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) 24 hours post-treatment, considered the gold standard.