Significance: Simulations have the potential to be a powerful tool when planning the placement of photoacoustic imaging system components for surgical guidance. While elastic simulations (which include both compressional and shear waves) are expected to more accurately represent the physical transcranial acoustic wave propagation process, these simulations are more time-consuming and memory-intensive than the compressional-wave-only simulations that our group previously used to identify optimal acoustic windows for transcranial photoacoustic imaging. Aim: We present qualitative and quantitative comparisons of compressional and elastic wave simulations to determine which option is more suitable for preoperative surgical planning. Approach: Compressional and elastic photoacoustic k-Wave simulations were performed based on a computed tomography volume of a human cadaver head. Photoacoustic sources were placed in the locations of the internal carotid arteries and likely positions of neurosurgical instrument tips. Transducers received signals from three previously identified optimal acoustic windows (i.e., the ocular, nasal, and temporal regions). Target detectability, image-based target size estimates, and target-to-instrument distances were measured using the generalized contrast-to-noise ratio (gCNR), resolution, and relative source distances, respectively, for each simulation method. Results: The gCNR was equivalent between compressional and elastic simulations. The areas of the −6 dB contours of point spread functions utilized to measure resolution differed by 0.33 to 3.35 mm2. Target-to-instrument distance measurements were within 1.24 mm of the true distances. Conclusions: These results indicate that it is likely sufficient to utilize the less time-consuming, less memory-intensive compressional wave simulations for presurgical planning.

中文翻译：

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经颅光声引导神经外科手术前患者特定计划的压缩波和弹性波模拟的比较

意义：在规划用于手术引导的光声成像系统组件的放置时，模拟有可能成为一种强大的工具。虽然弹性模拟（包括压缩波和剪切波）有望更准确地表示物理经颅声波传播过程，但这些模拟比我们小组之前使用的仅压缩波模拟更耗时且内存密集确定经颅光声成像的最佳声窗。目的：我们对压缩波和弹性波模拟进行定性和定量比较，以确定哪种选择更适合术前手术计划。方法：基于人类尸体头部的计算机断层扫描体积执行压缩和弹性光声 k 波模拟。光声源放置在颈内动脉的位置和神经外科器械尖端的可能位置。换能器从三个先前确定的最佳声窗（即眼、鼻和颞区）接收信号。对于每种模拟方法，分别使用广义对比度噪声比 (gCNR)、分辨率和相对源距离来测量目标可检测性、基于图像的目标尺寸估计和目标到仪器的距离。结果：gCNR 在压缩和弹性模拟之间是等效的。用于测量分辨率的点扩展函数的 -6 dB 等高线的面积相差 0.33 至 3.35 mm2。目标到仪器的距离测量值在真实距离的 1.24 毫米以内。结论：这些结果表明，在术前计划中使用耗时更少、内存占用更少的压缩波模拟可能就足够了。