Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS). Four ablation treatments of a single canine hepatocellular adenoma.

Background: Canine hepatocellular adenomas are benign, well-differentiated, primary hepatic tumors. Surgical resection is technically demanding and is considered a major procedure with relatively high morbidity rates. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) uses focused ultrasonic energy to non-invasively create a heat-coagulated lesion deep within the body.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery using an enhanced sonication technique in a pig muscle model.

The Purpose Of This Study: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an enhanced magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) emission protocol that results in more extensive treatment by increasing the volume of each focal ablation using the same energy.

Materials And Methods: Six pigs were treated with an MRgFUS system combined with real-time MR, for imaging and temperature mapping, with 102 "enhanced" and 97 "regular" focal ablations performed on both buttock muscles. Real-time imaging, temperature mapping, and acoustic reflected spectrum data enabled immediate evaluation of the results.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS): ablation of liver tissue in a porcine model.

Background: Liver surgery is technically demanding and is considered a major procedure with relatively high morbidity rates. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) uses focused ultrasonic energy to create a heat coagulation lesion, which can be achieved in a totally controlled, very accurate manner (<1 mm). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and accuracy of non-invasive focal ablation of liver tissue achieved by consecutive MRgFUS sonications.

Noninvasive thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma by using magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound.

A number of minimally invasive methods have been tested for the thermal ablation of liver tumors as an alternative to surgical resection. The use of focused ultrasound transducers to ablate deep tumors offers the first completely noninvasive alternative to these techniques. By increasing the flexibility of this technology with modern phased-array transducer design and by combining it with magnetic resonance imaging for targeting and online guidance, a powerful tool results with the potential to offer treatment to a larger population of patients, to reduce trauma to the patient, and to reduce the cost of treatment.