Related Experiment Videos
[MR-guided biopsies of undetermined liver lesions: technique and results]
1Institut für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. Zangos@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Purpose:
To evaluate safety and precision of liver tumor biopsies performed in an open low field system using different sequence techniques.
Materials And Methods:
In 47 patients with liver tumors, MR-guided biopsies were performed in a low field system (0.2 Tesla, Magnetom Open, Siemens) using two different sequences. The procedure was monitored with T1-weighted FLASH sequences (TR/TE = 100/9; 70(3)) in all patients and with FISP-Rotated-Keyhole-sequence (TR/TE = 18/8; 90(3)) in additional 20 patients. After positioning of the needle tip in the tumors, 166 biopsy specimens were acquired with 16 G cutting needles (Somatex*). The diameter of the biopsied lesions ranged from 1 to 10 cm (mean diameter 3.2 cm). Visibility of the needles and precision of the biopsies were evaluated.
Results:
All interventional biopsies were performed without vascular or organ injuries. Adequate specimens for histologic interpretation were obtained in 42 cases (89.3%). The biopsy results were non-specific in 2 patients (4.2%) and the lesions missed in 3 patients (6.3%). Mean in-room time was 35 minutes and the intervention time was 8.3 minutes. T1-weighted FLASH images proved optimal for confirming needle-tip placement during the biopsies or punctures. Organs, tumors and vessels were easily identified. The FISP sequence proved to be inferior in visualizing vessels and tumors.
Conclusion:
MR-guided liver biopsies are safely and precisely performed using T1-weighted FLASH-sequences with sufficient visualization of the lesions and might be complementary to US- or CT-guided biopsies.