Non-invasive temperature mapping using temperature-responsive water saturation shift referencing (T-WASSR) MRI

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Thermosensing

Background:

• Accurate non-invasive temperature monitoring is crucial in various medical applications.
• Existing MRI methods for temperature mapping have limitations, especially in specific tissue types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel, non-invasive MRI approach for temperature assessment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the temperature-responsive water saturation shift referencing (T-WASSR) method.

Main Methods:

• Utilized water saturation shift referencing (WASSR) to measure water proton resonance frequency (PRF) shifts.
• Employed Lorentzian line-shape fitting to estimate PRF shifts related to temperature changes.
• Validated the T-WASSR method through in vitro and in vivo experiments, comparing with MR spectroscopy and phase-mapping.

Main Results:

• T-WASSR accurately measured temperature changes, showing good agreement with established methods.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of in vitro temperature mapping in fat-containing tissues.
• Optimal acquisition parameters were determined through simulations and experimental confirmation.

Conclusions:

• T-WASSR offers a reliable, non-invasive alternative for MRI-based temperature mapping.
• The T-WASSR technique is particularly well-suited for temperature measurements in tissues containing fat.
• This advancement holds potential for improved thermal monitoring in clinical settings.