ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between a thermal measurement and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) in liver. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pig liver was irradiated for 15 minutes with a diode laser at two different powers, 0.5 W (450 J) and 1.5 W (1,350 J). Tissue temperature was monitored every 20 seconds using thermocouples. Thermosensitive MRI sequences (T(1)-weighted Turbo-Flash) were acquired with the same irradiation parameters. Correlation between MRI signals (SI) and temperature measures was defined at two different distances from the fiber (5 and 10 mm). RESULTS: At 0.5 W, temperatures rose progressively up to a maximum increase of 9.5 degrees C at 5 mm and 4 degrees C at 10 mm after 15 minutes. The corresponding MRI signal decreased progressively to -27.6 SI at 5 mm and -18.5 SI at 10 mm. At 1.5 W, temperatures rose dramatically at 5 mm, reaching a plateau. The temperature elevation measured at the end of the irradiation was of 30 degrees C whereas at 10 mm it was only 14.5 degrees C. The MRI signal varied accordingly, remaining inversely proportional to temperature (-76 SI at 5 mm and -35.5 SI at 10 mm). CONCLUSIONS: An inversely proportional relationship was observed between MRI signal in sequential Turbo-Flash and temperature. MRI should allow to analyze heat diffusion in the liver, and thus to monitor real-time LITT treatments.
