title: MR imaging-guided radiofrequency thermal ablation in the porcine brain at 0.2 T.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that (a) MR imaging-guided radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation is safe and feasible in porcine brain using an open C-arm-shaped low-field MR system, and that (b) induced thermal lesion size can be predicted using low-field MR imaging. Magnetic resonance-guided RF ablation was performed in the cerebral frontal lobes of six pigs. An 18-G monopolar RF electrode was inserted into the porcine brain using MR image guidance and RF was then applied for 10 min. After post-procedure imaging (T2-weighted, T1-weighted before and after gadodiamide administration), the pigs were killed and the brains were used for pathologic examination. Successful RF electrode placement was accomplished in all cases without complications; total magnet time ranged from 73 to 189 min. The thermal lesion size varied from 10 to 12 mm perpendicular to the electrode track and was easily visualized on T2-weighted and enhanced T1-weighted images. Enhanced T1-weighted imaging demonstrated the highest brain-to-RF thermal lesion contrast-to-noise ratio with an average of 1.5 +/- 1.6. Enhanced T1-weighted imaging never underestimated pathologic lesion diameter with a mean difference of 2.3 +/- 1.0 mm and a radiologic/pathologic correlation of 0.69. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided RF thermal ablation is feasible and safe in the porcine brain using an open MR low-field system. Induced-thermal lesion size can best be monitored using enhanced T1-weighted images. In the future, RF ablation under low-field MR guidance may offer an alternative treatment option for primary and secondary brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Merkle
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shonk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duerk
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013552:Swine