MR-guided perineural injection of the ganglion impar: technical considerations and feasibility.

OBJECTIVE: Perineural ganglion impar injections are used in the management of pelvic pain syndromes; however, there is no consensus regarding the optimal image guidance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high soft tissue contrast and the potential to directly visualize and target the ganglion. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of MR-guided percutaneous perineural ganglion impar injections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six MR-guided ganglion impar injections were performed in six human cadavers. Procedures were performed with a clinical 1.5-Tesla MRI system through a far lateral transgluteus approach. Ganglion impar visibility, distance from the sacrococcygeal joint, number of intermittent MRI control steps required to place the needle, target error between the intended and final needle tip location, inadvertent punctures of non-targeted vulnerable structures, injectant distribution, and procedure time were determined. RESULTS: The ganglion impar was seen on MRI in 4/6 (66 %) of cases and located 0.8 mm cephalad to 16.3 mm caudad (average 1.2 mm caudad) to the midpoint of the sacrococcygeal joint. Needle placement required an average of three MRI control steps (range, 2-6). The average target error was 2.2 ± 2.1 mm. In 6/6 cases (100 %), there was appropriate periganglionic distribution and filling of the presacrococcygeal space. No punctures of non-targeted structures occurred. The median procedure time was 20 min (range, 12-29 min). CONCLUSION: Interventional MRI can visualize and directly target the ganglion impar for accurate needle placement and successful periganglionic injection with the additional benefit of no ionizing radiation exposure to patient and staff. Our results support clinical evaluation.

Fused X-ray and MR imaging guidance of intrapericardial delivery of microencapsulated human mesenchymal stem cells in immunocompetent swine.

PURPOSE: To assess intrapericardial delivery of microencapsulated, xenogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by using x-ray fused with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (x-ray/MR imaging) guidance as a potential treatment for ischemic cardiovascular disease in an immunocompetent swine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All animal experiments were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. Stem cell microencapsulation was performed by using a modified alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate encapsulation method to include 10% (wt/vol) barium sulfate to create barium-alginate microcapsules (BaCaps) that contained hMSCs. With x-ray/MR imaging guidance, eight female pigs (approximately 25 kg) were randomized to receive either BaCaps with hMSCs, empty BaCaps, naked hMSCs, or saline by using a percutaneous subxiphoid approach and were compared with animals that received empty BaCaps (n = 1) or BaCaps with hMSCs (n = 2) by using standard fluoroscopic delivery only. MR images and C-arm computed tomographic (CT) images were acquired before injection and 1 week after delivery. Animals were sacrificed immediately or at 1 week for histopathologic validation. Cardiac function between baseline and 1 week after delivery was evaluated by using a paired Student t test. RESULTS: hMSCs remained highly viable (94.8% ± 6) 2 days after encapsulation in vitro. With x-ray/MR imaging, successful intrapericardial access and delivery were achieved in all animals. BaCaps were visible fluoroscopically and at C-arm CT immediately and 1 week after delivery. Whereas BaCaps were free floating immediately after delivery, they consolidated into a pseudoepicardial tissue patch at 1 week, with hMSCs remaining highly viable within BaCaps; naked hMSCs were poorly retained. Follow-up imaging 1 week after x-ray/MR imaging-guided intrapericardial delivery showed no evidence of pericardial adhesion and/or effusion or adverse effect on cardiac function. In contradistinction, BaCaps delivery with x-ray fluoroscopy without x-ray/MR imaging (n = 3) resulted in pericardial adhesions and poor hMSC viability after 1 week. CONCLUSION: Intrapericardial delivery of BaCaps with hMSCs leads to high cell retention and survival. With x-ray/MR imaging guidance, intrapericardial delivery can be performed safely in the absence of preexisting pericardial effusion to provide a novel route for cardiac cellular regenerative therapy.

Patellofemoral friction syndrome: magnetic resonance imaging correlation of morphologic and T2 cartilage imaging.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether patellofemoral T2 cartilage changes are associated with lateral patellofemoral friction syndrome (PFS), as indicated by an edema-like signal within the superolateral infrapatellar (Hoffa) fat pad. METHODS: In this institutional review board-approved retrospective study of 510 consecutive patients, 49 patients with 50 knee magnetic resonance imaging examinations demonstrating normal or low-grade patellofemoral cartilage abnormalities (whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score [WORMS] score, ≤2) were included. Twenty-two examinations with PFS (cases) were compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort of 28 examinations without PFS (controls). A 3-T magnetic resonance imaging was performed with multi-echo, spin-echo T2 mapping. Two readers measured in consensus malalignment parameters, including patellar height index, tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance, and sulcus angle. Bulk T2 cartilage values in the lateral and medial patellofemoral compartment, central weight-bearing medial and lateral femoral condyles were measured independently. Interobserver agreement was quantified using concordance correlation coefficients. Demographics, anatomic measurements, whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging scores, and cartilage T2 values were compared between cases and controls using Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Cases demonstrated higher patellar height index (P = 0.002) and tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance (P = 0.02). Interobserver agreement for T2 values was good overall (concordance correlation coefficient range, 0.65-0.93). Cases demonstrated higher medial facet patellar bulk T2 (38.1 [7.5] ms) versus controls (33.6 [7.3] ms) (P = 0.02); otherwise, there were no significant differences in regional T2 values. CONCLUSIONS: T2 mapping in patients with PFS demonstrates increased cartilage T2 in the medial patellar facet, possibly reflecting collagen alteration from early chondromalacia (softening) or increased water content related to altered contact pressures.

Augmented reality visualisation using an image overlay system for MR-guided interventions: technical performance of spine injection procedures in human cadavers at 1.5 Tesla.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively assess the technical performance of an augmented reality system for MR-guided spinal injection procedures. METHODS: The augmented reality system was used with a clinical 1.5-T MRI system. A total of 187 lumbosacral spinal injection procedures (epidural injection, spinal nerve root injection, facet joint injection, medial branch block, discography) were performed in 12 human cadavers. Needle paths were planned with the Perk Station module of 3D Slicer software on high-resolution MR images. Needles were placed under augmented reality MRI navigation. MRI was used to confirm needle locations. T1-weighted fat-suppressed MRI was used to visualise the injectant. Outcome variables assessed were needle adjustment rate, inadvertent puncture of non-targeted structures, successful injection rate and procedure time. RESULTS: Needle access was achieved in 176/187 (94.1 %) targets, whereas 11/187 (5.9 %) were inaccessible. Six of 11 (54.5 %) L5-S1 disks were inaccessible, because of an axial obliquity of 30˚ (27˚-34˚); 5/11 (45.5 %) facet joints were inaccessible because of osteoarthritis or fusion. All accessible targets (176/187, 94.1 %) were successfully injected, requiring 47/176 (26.7 %) needle adjustments. There were no inadvertent punctures of vulnerable structures. Median procedure time was 10.2 min (5-19 min). CONCLUSIONS: Image overlay navigated MR-guided spinal injections were technically accurate. Disks with an obliquity ≥27˚ may be inaccessible.

Technical innovation in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal tumors: an MR angiographic sequence using a sparse k-space sampling strategy.

OBJECTIVE: We demonstrate the clinical use of an MR angiography sequence performed with sparse k-space sampling (MRA), as a method for dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI, and apply it to the assessment of sarcomas for treatment response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three subjects with sarcomas (2 with osteosarcoma, 1 with high-grade soft tissue sarcomas) underwent MRI after neoadjuvant therapy/prior to surgery, with conventional MRI (T1-weighted, fluid-sensitive, static post-contrast T1-weighted sequences) and DCE-MRI (MRA, time resolution = 7-10 s, TR/TE 2.4/0.9 ms, FOV 40 cm(2)). Images were reviewed by two observers in consensus who recorded image quality (1 = diagnostic, no significant artifacts, 2 = diagnostic, <25 % artifacts, 3 = nondiagnostic) and contrast enhancement characteristics by static MRI (presence/absence of contrast enhancement, percentage of enhancement) and DCE-MRI (presence/absence of arterial enhancement with time-intensity curves). Results were compared with histological response (defined as <5 % viable tumor [soft tissue sarcoma] or <10 % [bone sarcoma] following resection). RESULTS: Diagnostic quality for all conventional and DCE-MRI sequences was rated as 1. In 2 of the 3 sarcomas, there was good histological response (≤5 % viable tumor); in 1 there was poor response (50 % viable tumor). By static post-contrast T1-weighted sequences, there was enhancement in all sarcomas, regardless of response (up to >75 % with good response, >75 % with poor response). DCE-MRI findings were concordant with histological response (arterial enhancement with poor response, no arterial enhancement with good response). CONCLUSION: Unlike conventional DCE-MRI sequences, an MRA sequence with sparse k-space sampling is easily integrated into a routine musculoskeletal tumor MRI protocol, with high diagnostic quality. In this preliminary work, tumor enhancement characteristics by DCE-MRI were used to assess treatment response.

High-resolution magnetic resonance-guided posterior femoral cutaneous nerve blocks.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility, technical success, and effectiveness of high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR)-guided posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN) blocks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12 posterior femoral cutaneous nerve blocks in 8 patients [6 (75%) female, 2 (25%) male; mean age, 47 years; range, 42-84 years] with chronic perineal pain suggesting PFCN neuropathy was performed. Procedures were performed with a clinical wide-bore 1.5-T MR imaging system. High-resolution MR imaging was utilized for visualization and targeting of the PFCN. Commercially available, MR-compatible 20-G needles were used for drug delivery. Variables assessed were technical success (defined as injectant surrounding the targeted PFCN on post-intervention MR images) effectiveness, (defined as post-interventional regional anesthesia of the target area innervation downstream from the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve block), rate of complications, and length of procedure time. RESULTS: MR-guided PFCN injections were technically successful in 12/12 cases (100%) with uniform perineural distribution of the injectant. All blocks were effective and resulted in post-interventional regional anesthesia of the expected areas (12/12, 100%). No complications occurred during the procedure or during follow-up. The average total procedure time was 45 min (30-70) min. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial results demonstrate that this technique of selective MR-guided PFCN blocks is feasible and suggest high technical success and effectiveness. Larger studies are needed to confirm our initial results.

Augmented reality visualization with use of image overlay technology for MR imaging-guided interventions: assessment of performance in cadaveric shoulder and hip arthrography at 1.5 T.

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess overlay technology in providing accurate and efficient targeting for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided shoulder and hip joint arthrography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prototype augmented reality image overlay system was used in conjunction with a clinical 1.5-T MR imager. A total of 24 shoulder joint and 24 hip joint injections were planned in 12 human cadavers. Two operators (A and B) participated, each performing procedures on different cadavers using image overlay guidance. MR imaging was used to confirm needle positions, monitor injections, and perform MR arthrography. Accuracy was assessed according to the rate of needle adjustment, target error, and whether the injection was intraarticular. Efficiency was assessed according to arthrography procedural time. Operator differences were assessed with comparison of accuracy and procedure times between the operators. Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test were used to assess group differences. RESULTS: Forty-five arthrography procedures (23 shoulders, 22 hips) were performed. Three joints had prostheses and were excluded. Operator A performed 12 shoulder and 12 hip injections. Operator B performed 11 shoulder and 10 hip injections. Needle adjustment rate was 13% (six of 45; one for operator A and five for operator B). Target error was 3.1 mm±1.2 (standard deviation) (operator A, 2.9 mm±1.4; operator B, 3.5 mm±0.9). Intraarticular injection rate was 100% (45 of 45). The average arthrography time was 14 minutes (range, 6-27 minutes; 12 minutes [range, 6-25 minutes] for operator A and 16 minutes [range, 6-27 min] for operator B). Operator differences were not significant with regard to needle adjustment rate (P=.08), target error (P=.07), intraarticular injection rate (P>.99), and arthrography time (P=.22). CONCLUSION: Image overlay technology provides accurate and efficient MR guidance for successful shoulder and hip arthrography in human cadavers.

Augmented reality visualization with image overlay for MRI-guided intervention: accuracy for lumbar spinal procedures with a 1.5-T MRI system.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of an augmented reality image overlay system in MRI-guided spinal injection procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An augmented reality prototype was used in conjunction with a 1.5-T MRI system. A human lumbar spine phantom was used in which 62 targets were punctured to assess the accuracy of the system. Sixty anatomic targets (facet joint, disk space, and spinal canal) were punctured to assess how the accuracy of the system translated into practice. A visualization software interface was used to compare planned needle paths and final needle locations on coregistered CT images (standard of reference). Outcome variables included entry error, angle error, depth error, target error, successful access of anatomic targets, number of needle adjustments, and time requirements. RESULTS: Accuracy assessments showed entry error of 1.6 ± 0.8 mm, angle error of 1.6° ± 1.0°, depth error of 0.7 ± 0.5 mm, and target error of 1.9 ± 0.9 mm. All anatomic targets (60 of 60 insertions) were successfully punctured, including all 20 facet joints, all 20 disks, and all 20 spinal canals. Four needle adjustments (6.7%) were required. Planning of a single needle path required an average of 55 seconds. A single needle insertion required an average of 1 minute 27 seconds. CONCLUSION: The augmented reality image overlay system evaluated facilitated accurate MRI guidance for successful spinal procedures in a lumbar spine model. It exhibited potential for simplifying the current practice of MRI-guided lumbar spinal injection procedures.

Advanced MR neurography imaging of radial nerve entrapment at the spiral groove: a case report.

High-resolution magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is being increasingly employed for the evaluation of peripheral nerves. We describe a case of spiral groove syndrome (Saturday night palsy) and illustrate the role of advanced 3 Tesla MRN imaging techniques, including three-dimensional diffusion-weighted fat-suppressed reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession and diffusion tensor imaging.

The application of three-dimensional diffusion-weighted PSIF technique in peripheral nerve imaging of the distal extremities.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the addition of the three-dimensional diffusion-weighted reversed fast imaging with steady state free precession (3D DW-PSIF) sequence improves the identification of peripheral nerves in the distal extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve MR neurography (MRN) studies of the distal upper extremity and 12 MRN studies of distal lower extremity were evaluated. From the 24 subjects who were enrolled, 10 had clinically suspected peripheral neuropathy, whereas 14 suffered from various orthopedic diseases and had no clinical signs of neuropathy. In each examination, the ability to identify each peripheral nerve on T2-weighted and 3D DW-PSIF sequences was evaluated using a semi-quantitative (0-2) scale. Thereafter, a total certainty score was registered for each sequence. RESULTS: Combining the results of all studies, the mean certainty score was 1.92 ± 0.28 on the 3D DW-PSIF images and 1.50 ± 0.72 on the T2-weighted images (P < 0.001). In the upper extremity studies, the corresponding certainty scores were 2.0 and 1.70 ± 0.55, respectively (P = 0.008), and in the lower extremity studies, 1.86 ± 0.35 and 1.36 ± 0.79, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The 3D DW-PSIF images provide improved identification of the nerves compared with the T2-weighted images, and should be incorporated in the MRN protocol, whenever accurate nerve localization and/or presurgical evaluation are required.

MR neurography: past, present, and future.

OBJECTIVE: MR neurography (MRN) has increasingly been used in clinical practice for the evaluation of peripheral nerve disease. This article reviews the historic perspective of MRN, the current imaging trends of this modality, and the future directions and applications that have shown potential for improved imaging and diagnostic capabilities. CONCLUSION: MRN has come a long way in the past 2 decades. Excellent depiction of 3D nerve anatomy and pathology is currently possible. Further technical developments in diffusion-based nerve and muscle imaging, whole-body MRN, and nerve-specific MR contrast agents will likely play a major role in advancing this novel field and understanding peripheral neuromuscular diseases in the years to come.

3T MR neurography using three-dimensional diffusion-weighted PSIF: technical issues and advantages.

Three-dimensional (3D) diffusion-weighted reversed fast imaging with steady state precession (3D DW-PSIF) MR sequence has the potential to create nerve-specific images. The authors describe the technical issues and their initial experience with this imaging technique employed for peripheral MR neurography.

1.5 T augmented reality navigated interventional MRI: paravertebral sympathetic plexus injections.

PURPOSE: The high contrast resolution and absent ionizing radiation of interventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be advantageous for paravertebral sympathetic nerve plexus injections. We assessed the feasibility and technical performance of MRI-guided paravertebral sympathetic injections utilizing augmented reality navigation and 1.5 T MRI scanner. METHODS: A total of 23 bilateral injections of the thoracic (8/23, 35%), lumbar (8/23, 35%), and hypogastric (7/23, 30%) paravertebral sympathetic plexus were prospectively planned in twelve human cadavers using a 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner and augmented reality navigation system. MRI-conditional needles were used. Gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced saline was injected. Outcome variables included the number of control magnetic resonance images, target error of the needle tip, punctures of critical nontarget structures, distribution of the injected fluid, and procedure length. RESULTS: Augmented-reality navigated MRI guidance at 1.5 T provided detailed anatomical visualization for successful targeting of the paravertebral space, needle placement, and perineural paravertebral injections in 46 of 46 targets (100%). A mean of 2 images (range, 1-5 images) were required to control needle placement. Changes of the needle trajectory occurred in 9 of 46 targets (20%) and changes of needle advancement occurred in 6 of 46 targets (13%), which were statistically not related to spinal regions (P = 0.728 and P = 0.86, respectively) and cadaver sizes (P = 0.893 and P = 0.859, respectively). The mean error of the needle tip was 3.9±1.7 mm. There were no punctures of critical nontarget structures. The mean procedure length was 33±12 min. CONCLUSION: 1.5 T augmented reality-navigated interventional MRI can provide accurate imaging guidance for perineural injections of the thoracic, lumbar, and hypogastric sympathetic plexus.

Magnetic resonance neurography: technical considerations.

Proper performance of magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is essential not only to make the examination easier to interpret but also for its accurate evaluation. This article outlines the technical considerations of MRN, various imaging pulse sequences available on current scanners, as well as their relative advantages and disadvantages. In addition, a guide to the optimal use of high-resolution and high-contrast MRN technique is provided, which will aid clinicians in attaining a good-quality examination.

MR-guided vertebroplasty with augmented reality image overlay navigation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided vertebroplasty at 1.5 Tesla using augmented reality image overlay navigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five unilateral vertebroplasties [5 of 25 (20%) thoracic, 20 of 25 (80%) lumbar] were prospectively planned in 5 human cadavers. A clinical 1.5-Teslan MRI system was used. An augmented reality image overlay navigation system and 3D Slicer visualization software were used for MRI display, planning, and needle navigation. Intermittent MRI was used to monitor placement of the MRI-compatible vertebroplasty needle. Cement injections (3 ml of polymethylmethacrylate) were performed outside the bore. The cement deposits were assessed on intermediate-weighted MR images. Outcome variables included type of vertebral body access, number of required intermittent MRI control steps, location of final needle tip position, cement deposit location, and vertebroplasty time. RESULTS: All planned procedures (25 of 25, 100%) were performed. Sixteen of 25 (64%) transpedicular and 9 of 25 (36%) parapedicular access routes were used. Six (range 3-9) MRI control steps were required for needle placement. No inadvertent punctures were visualized. Final needle tip position and cement location were adequate in all cases (25 of 25, 100%) with a target error of the final needle tip position of 6.1 ± 1.9 mm (range 0.3-8.7 mm) and a distance between the planned needle tip position and the center of the cement deposit of 4.3 mm (range 0.8-6.8 mm). Time requirement for one level was 16 (range 11-21) min. CONCLUSION: MRI-guided vertebroplasty using image overlay navigation is feasible allowing for accurate vertebral body access and cement deposition in cadaveric thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies.

MR image overlay guidance: system evaluation for preclinical use.

PURPOSE: A clinical augmented reality guidance system was developed for MRI-guided musculoskeletal interventions Magnetic Resonance Image Overlay System (MR-IOS). The purpose of this study was to assess MRI compatibility, system accuracy, technical efficacy, and operator performance of the MR-IOS. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The impact of the MR-IOS on the MR environment was assessed by measuring image quality with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and signal intensity uniformity with the system in various on/off states. The system accuracy was assessed with an in-room preclinical experiment by performing 62 needle insertions on a spine phantom by an expert operator measuring entry, depth, angle, and target errors. Technical efficacy and operator performance were tested in laboratory by running an experiment with 40 novice operators (20 using freehand technique versus 20 MR-IOS-guided) with each operator inserting 10 needles into a geometric phantom. Technical efficacy was measured by comparing the success rates of needle insertions between the two operator groups. Operator performance was assessed by comparing total procedure times, total needle path distance, presumed tissue damage, and speed of individual insertions between the two operator groups. RESULTS: The MR-IOS maximally altered SNR by 2% with no perceptible change in image quality or uniformity. Accuracy assessment showed mean entry error of 1.6 ± 0.6 mm, depth error of 0.7 ± 0.5 mm, angle error of 1.5 ± 1.1°, and target error of 1.9 ± 0.8 mm. Technical efficacy showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.031) between success rates (freehand 35.0% vs. MR-IOS 80.95%). Operator performance showed: mean total procedure time of 40.3 ± 4.4 (s) for freehand and 37.0 ± 3.7 (s) for MR-IOS (p = 0.584), needle path distances of 152.6 ± 15.0 mm for freehand and 116.9 ± 8.7 mm for MR-IOS (p = 0.074), presumed tissue damage of 7,417.2 ± 955.6 mm(2) for freehand and 6062.2 ± 678.5 mm(2) for MR-IOS (p = 0.347), and speed of insertion 5.9 ± 0.4 mm/s for freehand and 4.3 ± 0.3 mm/s for MR-IOS (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The MR-IOS is compatible within a clinical MR imaging environment, accurate for needle placement, technically efficacious, and improves operator performance over the unassisted insertion technique. The MR-IOS was found to be suitable for further testing in a clinical setting.

Augmented reality visualization using image overlay technology for MR-guided interventions: cadaveric bone biopsy at 1.5 T.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively test the hypothesis that image overlay technology facilitates accurate navigation for magnetic resonance (MR)-guided osseous biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prototype augmented reality image overlay system was used in conjunction with a clinical 1.5-T MR imaging system. Osseous biopsy of a total of 16 lesions was planned in 4 human cadavers with osseous metastases. A loadable module of 3D Slicer open-source medical image analysis and visualization software was developed and used for display of MR images, lesion identification, planning of virtual biopsy paths, and navigation of drill placement. The osseous drill biopsy was performed by maneuvering the drill along the displayed MR image containing the virtual biopsy path into the target. The drill placement and the final drill position were monitored by intermittent MR imaging. Outcome variables included successful drill placement, number of intermittent MR imaging control steps, target error, number of performed passes and tissue sampling, time requirements, and pathological analysis of the obtained osseous core specimens including adequacy of specimens, presence of tumor cells, and degree of necrosis. RESULTS: A total of 16 osseous lesions were sampled with percutaneous osseous drill biopsy. Eight lesions were located in the osseous pelvis (8/16, 50%) and 8 (8/16, 50%) lesions were located in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Lesion size was 2.2 cm (1.1-3.5 cm). Four (2-8) MR imaging control steps were required. MR imaging demonstrated successful drill placement inside 16 of the 16 target lesions (100%). One needle pass was sufficient for accurate targeting of all lesions. One tissue sample was obtained in 8 of the 16 lesions (50%); 2, in 6 of the 16 lesions (38%); and 3, in 2 of the 16 lesions (12%). The target error was 4.3 mm (0.8-6.8 mm). Length of time required for biopsy of a single lesion was 38 minutes (20-55 minutes). Specimens of 15 of the 16 lesions (94%) were sufficient for pathological evaluation. Of those 15 diagnostic specimens, 14 (93%) contained neoplastic cells, whereas 1 (7%) specimen demonstrated bone marrow without evidence of neoplastic cells. Of those 14 diagnostic specimens, 11 (79%) were diagnostic for carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, which was concordant with the primary neoplasm, whereas, in 3 of the 14 diagnostic specimens (21%), the neoplastic cells were indeterminate. CONCLUSIONS: Image overlay technology provided accurate navigation for the MR-guided biopsy of osseous lesions of the spine and the pelvis in human cadavers at 1.5 T. The high technical and diagnostic yield supports further evaluation with clinical trials.

Respiration-based sorting of dynamic MRI to derive representative 4D-MRI for radiotherapy planning.

PURPOSE: Current pretreatment, 4D imaging techniques are suboptimal in that they sample breathing motion over a very limited "snap-shot" in time. To potentially address this, the authors have developed a longer-duration MRI and postprocessing technique to derive the average or most-probable state of mobile anatomy and meanwhile capture and convey the observed motion variability. METHODS: Sagittal and coronal multislice, 2D dynamic MRI was acquired in a sequential fashion over extended durations in two abdominal and four lung studies involving healthy volunteers. Two sequences, readily available on a commercial system, were employed. Respiratory interval-correlated, or 4D-MRI, volumes were retrospectively derived using a two-pass approach. In a first pass, a respiratory trace acquired simultaneous with imaging was processed and slice stacking was used to derive a set of MRI volumes, each representing an equal time or proportion of respiration. Herein, all raw 2D frames mapping to the given respiratory interval, per slice location, were averaged. In a second-pass, this prior reconstruction provided a set of template images and a similarity metric was employed to discern the subset of best-matching raw 2D frames for secondary averaging (per slice location and respiratory interval). Breathing variability (per respiratory interval and slice location) was depicted by computing both a maximum intensity projection as well as a pixelwise standard deviation image. RESULTS: These methods were successfully demonstrated in both the lung and abdomen for both applicable sequences, performing reconstructions with ten respiratory intervals. The first-pass (average) resulted in motion-induced blurring, especially for irregular breathing. The authors have demonstrated qualitatively that the second-pass result can mitigate this blurring. CONCLUSIONS: They have presented a novel methodology employing dMRI to derive representative 4D-MRI. This set of techniques are practical in that (1) they employ MRI sequences that are standard across commercial vendors; (2) the 2D imaging planes can be oriented onto an arbitrary axis (e.g., sagittal, coronal, axial[ellipsis (horizontal)]); (3) the image processing techniques are relatively simple. Systematically applying this and similar dMRI-based techniques in patients is a crucial next step to demonstrate efficacy beyond CT-only based practice.

4D tumor centroid tracking using orthogonal 2D dynamic MRI: implications for radiotherapy planning.

PURPOSE: Current pretreatment, 4D imaging techniques are suboptimal in that they sample breathing motion over a very limited "snapshot" in time. Heretofore, long-duration, 4D motion characterization for radiotherapy planning, margin optimization, and validation have been impractical for safety reasons, requiring invasive markers imaged under x-ray fluoroscopy. To characterize 3D tumor motion and associated variability over durations more consistent with treatments, the authors have developed a practical dynamic MRI (dMRI) technique employing two orthogonal planes acquired in a continuous, interleaved fashion. METHODS: 2D balanced steady-state free precession MRI was acquired continuously over 9-14 min at approximately 4 Hz in three healthy volunteers using a commercial 1.5 T system; alternating orthogonal imaging planes (sagittal, coronal, sagittal, etc.) were employed. The 2D in-plane pixel resolution was 2 × 2 mm(2) with a 5 mm slice profile. Simultaneous with image acquisition, the authors monitored a 1D surrogate respiratory signal using a device available with the MRI system. 2D template matching-based anatomic feature registration, or tracking, was performed independently in each orientation. 4D feature tracking at the raw frame rate was derived using spline interpolation. RESULTS: Tracking vascular features in the lung for two volunteers and pancreatic features in one volunteer, the authors have successfully demonstrated this method. Registration error, defined here as the difference between the sagittal and coronal tracking result in the SI direction, ranged from 0.7 to 1.6 mm (1σ) which was less than the acquired image resolution. Although the healthy volunteers were instructed to relax and breathe normally, significantly variable respiration was observed. To demonstrate potential applications of this technique, the authors subsequently explored the intrafraction stability of hypothetical tumoral internal target volumes and 3D spatial probability distribution functions. The surrogate respiratory information allowed the authors to show how this technique can be used to study correlations between internal and external (surrogate) information over these prolonged durations. However, compared against the gold standard of the time stamps in the dMRI frames, the temporal synchronization of the surrogate 1D respiratory information was shown to be likely unreliable. CONCLUSIONS: The authors have established viability of a novel and practical pretreatment, 4D tumor centroid tracking method employing a commercially available dynamic MRI sequence. Further developments from the vendor are likely needed to provide a reliably synchronized surrogate 1D respiratory signal, which will likely broaden the utility of this method in the pretreatment radiotherapy planning context.