Navigated Liver Biopsies in a Closed-Bore MR Scanner: First Clinical Experience

Michael Moche¹, Gregor Thrmer¹, Nikita Garnov¹, Jochen Fuchs¹, Susann Heinig¹, Tim Riedel¹, Thomas Kahn¹, Harald Busse¹

MRI has been shown to be of great clinical utility for the guidance of various procedures. In a closed-bore scanner, the simplest approach is to manipulate the instrument outside the bore and move the patient inside for control imaging only. Potential benefits for percutaneous biopsies in the liver have been investigated in 15 patients by using a flexible add-on navigation solution which even allowed interventions in obese patients. Real time navigation was provided by following the virtual instrument on properly reformatted images of a 3D roadmap. In combination with a specific breathhold protocol, punctures could be reliably performed in reasonable times.