title: Malignant liver tumors treated with MR imaging-guided laser-induced thermotherapy: technique and prospective results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) of liver metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a phase II study, 20 patients with 33 metastases from colorectal carcinoma (75%) or other primary tumors (25%) underwent LITT. MR thermometry performed with fast low-angle shot sequences was used to monitor therapy on-line, and dynamic and static contrast material-enhanced MR images enabled estimation of the degree of resultant necrosis. Follow-up studies were performed 3 months after thermotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thermosequences enabled accurate on-line monitoring in 85% of lesions. In 69% of lesions 20 mm in diameter or smaller, contrast-enhanced MR images depicted substantial necrosis, with a local tumor control rate of 69% after 6 months and 44% after 12 months. Among lesions larger than 20 mm, necrosis was frequently incomplete, with a local control rate of only 41% after 6 months and 27% after 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR imaging-guided LITT of liver metastases is a safe and promising therapy for liver metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hammerstingl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weinhold
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deimling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beuthan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pegios
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riess
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies