3T magnetic resonance imaging accurately depicts radiofrequency ablation zones in a blood-perfused bovine liver model.

Purpose: To determine if noncontrast T1-weighted (T1W) images from 3T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging accurately depict radiofrequency (RF) ablation zones as determined macroscopically and microscopically in a blood-perfused bovine liver model.

Materials And Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) gradient-recalled echo (GRE) T1W images were obtained on a 3T MR imaging scanner after RF ablations (n = 14) of in vitro blood-perfused bovine livers. The resulting central hypointense and peripheral hyperintense signal regions were measured and compared with the inner tan and outer red zones of the gross specimen.

In vitro blood-perfused bovine liver model: a physiologic model for evaluation of the performance of radiofrequency ablation devices.

Purpose: To describe an in vitro blood-perfused bovine liver model for the testing of radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices and compare the performance of a specific RF ablation device in the model relative to three other biologic models.

Materials And Methods: Fresh bovine livers were used to create three in vitro models: blood-perfused, Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution-perfused, and nonperfused. The perfused models were connected to a heart-lung machine via the portal vein and perfused with heparinized autologous blood or KH solution under physiologic conditions.