Evaluation of Realtime Temperature Monitoring of Human Liver Based on Patients Undergoing a Radiofrequency Ablation

Antje Kickhefel¹, Hansjoerg Rempp², Joerg Roland³, Fritz Schick²

MR thermometry based on proton resonance frequency method (PRF) was performed during radio frequency ablation (RFA) (liver tumors; free breathing patients). A temperature region (>57C) was segmented in real-time images (2D-GRE) at the end of LITT. These segmented areas were compared to the necrosis from 24hours follow-up measurements (T1-weigthed 3D-GRE). Registration between temperature imaging and follow-up was performed (averaged error 5%). Heated regions can be identified. Necrotic areas were overestimated (averaged ~5mm). In summary temperature visualization of the RFA is possible but has to be more reliable. Further improvement can be achieved by applying slice-by-slice respiratory triggering.