MR-guided ablation of head and neck tumors

Interstitial laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive technique for lo-caltumor destruction within solid organs using optical fibers to deliver a high-energylaser to the target lesion. MR imaging is used both for placement of the laser in the tumorand for monitoring progress of thermocoagulation caused by the laser. The success ofLITT is dependent on the delivery of the optical fibers to the target area, real-time mon-itoringof the effects of the treatment, and subsequent evaluation of the extent of thermaldamage. The key to achieving these objectives is the imaging methods used. The thermo-sensitivityof certain MR sequences is the key to real-time monitoring, allowing accurateestimation of the extent of thermal damage.