Laser induced thermotherapy (LITT) of experimental liver metastasis-detection of residual tumors using Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Gd-DTPA MRI in the detection of recurrent tumor after laserinduced thermotherapy (LITT) of experimental liver metastases.


METHODS
LITT was performed at different energy levels in VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbits (n = 80). MRI and histology were placed at 0, 24, 96 hours, and 14 days. Signal intensities were calculated of the transition between thermally damaged and undamaged tissue (transition zone = TZ) and of the surrounding tissue (reference zone = RZ).


RESULTS
Tumor recurrence was seen in 47 animals. At 24 hours sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 92, 100, and 95% in TZ and 23, 100, and 50% in RZ. At 14 days sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 100, 11, and 60% in TZ and 100, 89, and 95% in RZ.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrence is best excluded in TZ at 24 hour and in RZ at 14 day with an accuracy up to 95%.
Isbert
Christoph
C
Department of General, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm, Berlin, Germany. isbert@ukbf.fu-berlin.de
Ritz
Jörg-P
JP
Schilling
Andreas
A
Roggan
André
A
Heiniche
Antje
A
Wolf
Karl-J
KJ
Müller
Gerhard
G
Buhr
Heinz J
HJ
Germer
Christoph-T
CT
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011817:Rabbits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA