SlicerPET: A workflow based software module for PET/CT guided needle biopsy

Abstract: Biopsy is commonly used to confirm cancer diagnosis when radiologically indicated. Given the ability of PET to localize malignancies in heterogeneous tumors and tumors that do not have a CT correlate, PET/CT guided biopsy may improve the diagnostic yield of biopsies. To facilitate PET/CT guided needle biopsy, we developed a workflow that allows us to bring PET image guidance into the interventional CT suite. In this abstract, we present SlicerPET, a user-friendly workflow based module developed using open source software libraries to guide needle biopsy in the interventional suite.