A fast MR-thermometry method for quantitative assessment of temperature increase near an implanted wire.

Marylène Delcey,Wadie Ben Hassen,Pierre Bour,Valéry Ozenne,Bruno Quesson,Nick Todd

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250636

Abstract

To propose a MR-thermometry method and associated data processing technique to predict the maximal RF-induced temperature increase near an implanted wire for any other MRI sequence. A dynamic single shot echo planar imaging sequence was implemented that interleaves acquisition of several slices every second and an energy deposition module with adjustable parameters. Temperature images were processed in real time and compared to invasive fiber-optic measurements to assess accuracy of the method. The standard deviation of temperature was measured in gel and in vivo in the human brain of a volunteer. Temperature increases were measured for different RF exposure levels in a phantom containing an inserted wire and then a MR-conditional pacemaker lead. These calibration data set were fitted to a semi-empirical model allowing estimation of temperature increase of other acquisition sequences. The precision of the measurement obtained after filtering with a 1.6x1.6 mm2 in plane resolution was 0.2°C in gel, as well as in the human brain. A high correspondence was observed with invasive temperature measurements during RF-induced heating (0.5°C RMSE for a 11.5°C temperature increase). Temperature rises of 32.4°C and 6.5°C were reached at the tip of a wire and of a pacemaker lead, respectively. After successful fitting of temperature curves of the calibration data set, temperature rise predicted by the model was in good agreement (around 5% difference) with measured temperature by a fiber optic probe, for three other MRI sequences. This method proposes a rapid and reliable quantification of the temperature rise near an implanted wire. Calibration data set and resulting fitting coefficients can be used to estimate temperature increase for any MRI sequence as function of its power and duration.

Highlights

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly performed in the presence of cardiac electronic implantable devices (CEIDs) [1, 2], or deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes [3], together with interventional devices such as for MRI-guided catheterization [4]
A high correspondence was observed with invasive temperature measurements during RF-induced heating (0.5 ̊C root mean squared error (RMSE) for a 11.5 ̊C temperature increase)
After successful fitting of temperature curves of the calibration data set, temperature rise predicted by the model was in good agreement with measured temperature by a fiber optic probe, for three other MRI sequences

Summary

Introduction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly performed in the presence of cardiac electronic implantable devices (CEIDs) [1, 2], or deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes [3], together with interventional devices such as for MRI-guided catheterization [4]. Numerical simulations of electromagnetic fields, induced currents and resulting temperature evolution (using the bio-heat transfer equation) [17,18,19] require precise knowledge of the device’s 3D geometrical arrangements, its composition, size and its position relative to the MRI scanner’s excitation coil, together with electrical and thermal tissue properties, making personalized simulation for each patient unpractical. Other approaches based on MRI measurements were proposed to quantify induced currents into the device through B1+ mapping, using either magnitude [21] or phase images [22] These methods still require some assumptions (homogeneous or known B1 transmit and/ or receive fields) to work efficiently.

Methods

Results

Conclusion