Quantitative magnetic resonance temperature mapping for real-time monitoring of radiofrequency ablation of the liver: an ex vivo study.

We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of real-time magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry for monitoring radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the liver. Continuous MR temperature mapping was used to monitor bipolar RF ablations performed in ex vivo livers with and without flow using two parallel electrodes. Macroscopic inspection of ablation zones was compared with thermal dose maps (TDm) and T1-weighted inversion recovery turbo spin echo (IR-TSE) images for their size and shape and the influence of flow. Pearson's correlation (r), Bland and Altman tests and kappa (chiK) tests were performed. The mean differences in ablation zone size between macroscopic and TDm and IR-TSE measurements were +4 mm and -2 mm, respectively. TDm was well correlated with macroscopy (r=0.77 versus r=0.44 for IR-TSE). TDm was found to be more precise for shape recognition (chiK=0.73 versus chiK=0.55 for IR-TSE) and for detection of an intact ring of liver due to the cooling effect of flow which was impossible with IR-TSE. Simultaneous monitoring of RF ablation by MR thermometry is feasible and reliable for predicting the shape of ablation zones and the impact of the heat-sink effect of flow. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in vivo.