title: MR-guided core biopsies of soft tissue tumours on an open 0.23 T imager.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of MR-guided soft tissue core biopsies on an open 0.23 T magnet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine consecutive patients with known or suspected benign or malignant soft tissue tumours underwent MR imaging. A one-slice dynamic enhancement sequence was used to obtain an enhancement curve of the tumour. MR-guided core biopsy of the tumour was performed in the same session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All biopsies could be performed on an open 0.23 T magnet. Standard MR images and dynamic enhancement curves were used in deciding biopsy route and target. The MR-guided core biopsy specimens were sufficient for histopathological diagnosis in 27 of 29 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open magnet configuration allows easy access to the patient and near real-time imaging guidance of soft tissue tumours. Minimally invasive MR-guided core biopsies of soft tissue tumours are feasible and help to avoid open surgical biopsies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Parkkola
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Ekfors
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Komu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaara
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Aro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*