With the recent advances in computing, the opportunities to translate computational models to more integrated roles in patient treatment are expanding at an exciting rate. One area of considerable development has been directed towards correcting soft tissue deformation within image guided neurosurgery applications. This review captures the efforts that have been undertaken towards enhancing neuronavigation by the integration of soft tissue biomechanical models, imaging and sensing technologies, and algorithmic developments. In addition, the review speaks to the evolving role of modeling frameworks within surgery and concludes with some future directions beyond neurosurgical applications.
Keywords: Biomechanics; Brain; Brain shift; Cancer; Computational model; Deformation; Finite element; Image guidance; Image guided surgery; Imaging; Intervention; Modeling; Neurosurgery; Registration; Soft tissue; Sparse data; Surgery; Tumor.