Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate gadolinium (Gd)-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic-acid (DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for follow-up monitoring of laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) and to determine a useful examination schedule.
Methods: LITT of the liver was performed in 55 rabbits using a neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (4-W power output, 840-s exposure time). Gd-DTPA MRI and histologic examinations were performed at different times (0–168 days).
Results: Laser-induced lesions underwent regeneration and volume size reduction (69% after 168 days). The correlation coefficient (MR vs. macroscopic analysis) for the mean lesion diameter was r= 0.96. Histology of lesions comprised the four zones that correlated best with MRI findings. Coagulation necroses immediately after LITT was seen as an area of no enhancement on Gd-DTPA MRI. Circular enhancement was first seen 72–96 h after LITT, which was due to early mesenchymal proliferation.
Conclusions: Gd-DTPA MRI is a good monitoring procedure for LITT. MRI should be performed 24 and 96 h after LITT.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 23 May 1997/Accepted: 20 November 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Germer, C.T., Isbert, C.M., Albrecht, D. et al. Laser-induced thermotherapy for the treatment of liver metastasis. Surg Endosc 12, 1317–1325 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900849
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900849