CFD Analysis of the Choledynamic Flow Characteristics of a Patient with Gallbladder Carcinoma

Abstract

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a rare malignancy with a low detection rate due to non-specific symptoms, complicating early diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to improve pre-operative and post-operative surgical analysis using patient-specific CFD analysis. CT scan images of a male patient with GBC were segmented using 3D Slicer software, and the biliary tree geometry was imported into ANSYS Workbench for fluid and solid meshing. The mechanical properties of the biliary tree and the rheological properties of bile were determined, with an LRN k-ω model used for simulating the gallbladder refilling stage. Results indicate that unhealthy bile flows slower than healthy bile, suggesting a link between obstructed bile flow and tumors or stones. Tumor-induced blockages cause pressure accumulation in the gallbladder neck, unlike the minimum pressure in healthy cases. These findings highlight the complex interplay between bile rheology, tumor development, and pressure dynamics, suggesting the model’s potential use in surgical planning.