title: Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) monitoring using high-resolution digital mammography: theory and experimental studies.
abstract: Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) is a minimally-invasive laser hyperthermia procedure for the treatment of localized tumours. Real-time monitoring of LITT is essential to control the extent of tumour destruction and ensure safe and effective treatments. The feasibility of using high-resolution digital x-ray mammography to monitor LITT of breast cancer was evaluated. Tissue phantoms including polyacrylamide hydrogel and cadaver porcine tissue were heated using a 980 nm diode laser delivered through optical fibres with diffusing tips. Digital images of the tissue phantoms were recorded with a high-resolution digital stereotactic breast biopsy system during heating. The recorded images were processed and analysed to detect heat-induced changes. No changes were detected during heating of the hydrogel. Pixel-by-pixel subtraction of the initial image from images taken during laser heating shows observable thermally-induced changes around the fibre during laser irradiation that correlate with the thermal denaturation zone observed by gross anatomy. These experiments demonstrate that high-resolution digital x-ray mammography can be used to detect heat-induced tissue changes during experimental LITT in fibro-fatty tissue.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, FL 33136, USA. aminhaj@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minhaj
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Denham
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Izuru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nose
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Damgaard-Iversen
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parel
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D002102:Cadaver; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine