Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery using an enhanced sonication technique in a pig muscle model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an enhanced magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) emission protocol that results in more extensive treatment by increasing the volume of each focal ablation using the same energy.


METHODS
Six pigs were treated with an MRgFUS system combined with real-time MR, for imaging and temperature mapping, with 102 "enhanced" and 97 "regular" focal ablations performed on both buttock muscles. Real-time imaging, temperature mapping, and acoustic reflected spectrum data enabled immediate evaluation of the results. MR contrast-enhanced images and pathology examinations were used for confirmation.


RESULTS
The location of the ablated volume by "enhanced" sonication is predictable, with a maximum possible shift of 6 mm toward, and 3 mm away, from the transducer. The ablated volume after enhanced sonication was, on average, 1.8 times larger than after a regular sonication of the same energy. Pathology results showed the same thermally induced damage patterns in the enhanced sonications and the regular sonications.


CONCLUSIONS
Accelerated MRgFUS with enhanced sonication is a safe, controllable, and more effective tissue ablative modality than standard sonication. This new technology may significantly reduce the length of tumor ablation procedures. (Isn't the new technology you're talking about MRgFUS? If so, you don't need to repeat it at the end of this sentence.).
Kopelman
Doron
D
Department of Surgery B, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. Kopelman_d@clalit.org.il
Inbar
Yael
Y
Hanannel
Arik
A
Freundlich
David
D
Vitek
Shuki
S
Schmidt
Rita
R
Sokolov
Amit
A
Hatoum
Ossama A
OA
Rabinovici
Jaron
J
D000818:Animals; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D023421:Models, Animal; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013010:Sonication; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*