First-in-Human Intratumoral Temperature Monitoring During Standard 3 T MRI Demonstrates RF-Induced Tissue Heating
Chie-Hee Cho1, Franz Bergholz1, Lutz Lüdemann2
1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Direct temperature measurements during a 3 Tesla MRI scan showed a 2.0°C increase in tumor temperature and 3.4°C at the skin surface. This study demonstrates the feasibility of in vivo temperature monitoring during MRI, crucial for patient safety and potential therapies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Biophysics
- Oncology
Background:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) utilizes radiofrequency (RF) energy for diagnostics.
- RF-tissue interactions cause energy absorption and heating, measured by Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).
- Direct in vivo temperature changes during human MRI are not well-documented despite regulated SAR limits.
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