Radiofrequency Heating During Head Imaging in a 3T Transmit Body Coil

Devashish Shrivastava¹, Lynn Utecht¹, Jinfeng Tian¹, Rachana Visaria², John Hughes¹, University of Minnesota University of Minnesota Vaughan¹

Radiofrequency (RF) heating during head imaging with a transmit body coil is unknown and a safety concern. To better understand this heating, the heating was simulated by solving the new, analytical generic bioheat transfer model (GBHTM) and the gold standard empirical Pennes bioheat transfer equation in a digital pig with the pig head in the isocenter of a 3T, birdcage, transmit body coil. The simulations were validated by direct fluoroptic measurements in anesthetized swine. The GBHTM simulations as well as the measurements showed that in vivo temperatures may change significantly due to the power deposition from a body coil.