Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Antje Hellwich

Gaia Banks @banksgaia.bsky.social · 3d

Had a chance to read the new #2025ESCguidelines for the management of valvular heart disease? For a quick overview of the role of #cardiacMRI in #VHD check out this review by Nikoo Aziminia and Thomas Treibel from #universitycollegeLondon marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/9f382b65996a...

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 4d

Wideband Black-Blood Cardiac #MRI in Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices.
Aurélien Bustin; et al. (IHU LIRYC, @chu-bordeaux.fr) present a technique to reduce artifacts: marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/b08d9ff3314d...

@unil.bsky.social #CardioSky @banksgaia.bsky.social #WhyCMR

Thanks to technological advances, many implantable devices such as ICDs are now designed to be MR compatible, enabling wider clinical use of cardiac MRI in this patient population.
However, the presence of ferromagnetic materials in the generator of these devices creates strong field inhomogeneities around the device. This results in bright-blood LGE images and black-blood LGE images that are heavily impacted by signal loss, hyperintensity artifacts, and image distortion, often resulting in non-diagnostic images.

The authors present the “wideband” MRI technique for reducing ICD-related artifacts, and its application to black-blood LGE imaging.

Shoutout to the coauthors:
Pauline Gut, M.Sc.; Hubert Cochet, Ph.D.; Matthias Stuber, Ph.D.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 8d

October is #BreastCancerAwareness Month.
Many questions in cancer care — Do I have cancer? Is it responding? Has it returned? — still challenge diagnostics.

Progress is being made, with #MRI at the forefront.
🔗 www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/hot-topics/q...

#RadSky #WholeBodyMRI

Quantitative Whole-Body MRI

Whole-body MRI for assessing bone and soft tissue pathology and for therapy response evaluation.

www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 10d

Contrast-Enhanced iNAV #MRA for Whole-Chest, Whole-Heart, and Whole-Aortic Imaging.
Jason Craft (St. Francis Hospital); @mri-cprieto.bsky.social (@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social / @pucminas.bsky.social); et al.
marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/1a437926108a...
#MRI @banksgaia.bsky.social

Undersampled 3D whole-heart inversion recovery (IR) Dixon gradient echo (GRE) accelerated by variable-density spiral-like Cartesian trajectory (VD-CASPR) with image-based navigators (iNAVs) for motion estimation and nonrigid motion-corrected iterative sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) reconstruction with 100% respiratory scan efficiency has the potential for integration into workflows for left atrial and left ventricular delayed enhancement.

For the majority of patients, 3D non-contrast-enhanced T2-prepared balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) provides highly diagnostic image quality. However, iNAV CE-MRA has several key advantages that warrant consideration for use. These include a lack of dependency on chemically selective fat saturation preparatory pulses, which may inadvertently saturate the water signal in the aortic arch and proximal descending aorta; and demonstrably superior blood pool signal uniformity, allowing performance consistency of threshold-based anatomical segmentation used to generate centerline semi-automated aortic measurements (CSAMs). iNAV CE-MRA can also be combined with time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST) for comprehensive dynamic 4D angiography.
Given the rapidly shifting landscape of modern MR imaging, referral patterns, provider needs, and the increase in patient complexity, it is also increasingly important to have techniques that are robust to susceptibility artifacts from sources such as internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs)/pacemakers, thoracic endovascular aortic repairs (TEVAR), and hybrid aortic repairs.

Shoutout to the coauthors: Timothy Carter, Joshua Y. Cheng, Christopher J. Moran, Karl P. Kunze, Michaela Schmidt, Rene M. Botnar

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 13d

Explore how #MRI is shaping the future of radiation therapy — from treatment planning and adaptive workflows to innovations in lower-field imaging. The latest edition of "MReadings: MR in RT" is out.
www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/hot-topics/m...

#MRinRT #Radiotherapy #RadSky #ASTRO2025

Getting ready for ASTRO2025 don’t miss the latest edition of the “MReadings: MR in RT” with an editorial comment on “Quantitative MRI with High Potential for Response-Adaptive Radiotherapy” by Daniela Thorwarth (Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany) and Daniel Zips (Charité – Universitäsmedizin Berlin, Germany).

Explore how MRI is shaping the future of radiation therapy — from treatment planning and adaptive workflows to innovations in lower-field imaging.

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to all authors and co-authors for their valuable contributions to this edition.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 14d

Abbreviated Breast #MRI Protocol by Prof. Ritse Mann, et al. (@radboudumc.bsky.social / @nkinl.bsky.social @hetavl.bsky.social, The Netherlands).
⬇️ Download .exar1 for 3T and
💡 read tips & tricks here: www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-cor...

#BreastMRI #RadSky #Radiology #EUSOBI

Abbreviated Breast MR Protocol at the Radboud University Medical Center
by Professor Ritse Mann and Lejla Kočo (Radboudumc Nijmegen, The Netherlands / Netherlands Cancer Institute (Antoni van Leeuwenhoek), Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

At the Radboud University Medical Center, different MRI protocols are used for breast imaging depending on the purpose.
- 🕒 ~ 20-minute MRI protocol for diagnostic imaging
- ⏱️ ~ 8-minute abbreviated MRI (abMRI) protocol for screening

The motivation to implement abbreviated breast MR imaging (abMRI) at the Radboud was to increase cost-effectiveness.
The idea was to be able to scan more women within the same timeframe with MRI. This would therefore allow greater access to MRI screening to more women and reduce the time women had to spend inside the MRI scanner (anxiety, claustrophobia, lying still).
With the abbreviated MRI protocol three patients can be scanned per hour. If DWI is omitted, it is also possible to scan four patients in one hour.
Another important benefit is that the MRI scanner is almost continuously in use.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 14d

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Prof. Bernd Wintersperger and @tobiasgilk.bsky.social for their insightful feedback on the #MRI Patient Education Poster I shared yesterday. We included their suggestions in this updated version, that will soon be available online.
#RadSky #MRIsafety

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 15d

You are right Tobias - we will update the poster. I’ll keep you posted.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 16d

🧲 When patients understand WHY they need to prepare and behave in a certain way, it becomes much easier to keep them safe and to ensure high-quality scans.

Download your #MRI patient education poster in 4 languages at www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/toolkit/mri-...

#RadSky #MRIsafety

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 25d

We are excited to share the new interventional radiology edition of MAGNETOM Flash, launched for #CIRSE2025.

📖 Read the full issue here: www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/publications...

Shoutout to all contributers!

#MRI #RadSky #InterventionalRadiology #iMRI #MagnetomWorld

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · 28d

Today on #InternationalGynecologicalHealthDay we highlight #MRI protocols for uterus & ovaries, aligned with #ESUR guidelines.
With Deep Resolve, scans are faster & patient-friendly—advancing #WomensHealth.
🔗 marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/4bf81f42b222...
#RadSky #Endometriosis

Female pelvic disorders have a profound impact on women’s quality of life and overall health. Among the most prevalent and clinically significant are endometriosis, ovarian cancer, and uterine and cervical cancer.

Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
MRI plays a pivotal role, offering detailed anatomical and functional information that supports diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning.

By aligning with ESUR recommendations, the new uterus and ovaries workflows introduced in the syngo MR XB10 software provide standardized, high-quality imaging protocols tailored to gynecological needs.

Additionally, Deep Resolve can further accelerate scan times while maintaining high image quality, enhancing patient comfort and workflow efficiency.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Sep 7

Looking for conversation-starting wall art?
Heike Weh (Siemens Healthineers) made MRI-based sports images that capture the human body in motion.
They are available for download at www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/magnetom-mat...

#MagnetomWorld #MRI #MedicalImaging #Radiology #RadSky

The images show sports (tennis, cycling, football) as MR images.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Aug 5

The Spectrum of Interventional #MRI by David Woodrum, MD, PhD; et al. (@mayoclinic.org, Rochester, MN, USA).

This article provides a high-level overview of the breadth of #iMRI.
📖 Learn more: marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/95c585d43d45...

#RadSky #InterventionalRadiology

The Spectrum of Interventional MRI by David Woodrum, M.D., Ph.D.; Setayesh Sotoudehnia, M.D.; and Scott Thompson, M.D., Ph.D. (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA).

Clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for image-guided procedures began in the late 1980s. However, early procedures were limited by tools, in-bore access to the patient, and MR imaging limitations.

Interventional MRI (iMRI) offers some natural advantages including superior soft tissue resolution, ease of multiplanar imaging, lack of ionizing radiation, and the ability to re-image the same slice.

MRI guidance is particularly advantageous when the pathology can be best or only visualized with MRI. There has been tremendous growth in clinical applications and positive patient outcomes of iMRI over the past three decades, and the community has benefited from close collaboration between interventional radiologists, MR physicists, and MR nurses.

The figure shows summary images from the MRI-guided TULSA treatment.
TULSA stands for MRI-guided focused transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA-PRO, Profound Medical Corp., Mississauga, Canada)

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Aug 3

With the upcoming @ismrt.bsky.social's virtual meeting on #Fetal #MRI, I'd like to highlight some resources:

🔗 marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/962c8a876c00...

🔗 marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/793ca03bffa7...

🔗 www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-cor...

Fetal Intracerebral Vascular MRI: How I Do It
by Matt Thomas (I-MED Radiology Fortitude Valley, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia) and Georgia Peisker (Siemens Healthineers, Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia)
🔗 https://marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/962c8a876c00bd22/2a373ad0df9f/siemens-healthiners_DI-MRI--Thomas_HIDI_FetalVessels.pdf

How To Do Fetal Cardiac MRI at 3T
by Malenka M Bissell, et al. (University of Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom)
🔗 https://marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/793ca03bffa786b6/22a9f818db92/siemens-healthineers_clinical-corner_bissell_fetal_cmr_SCMR_2023.pdf

Fetal CMR Today and in the Future
by Erik Hedström and Anthony H. Aletras (Lund Cardiac MR Group, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden)
🔗 https://www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-corner/case-studies/fetal-cmr-today-and-in-the-future

Fetal Low Field MRI – the First 150 Cases
by Jana Hutter, et al. (King’s College London, UK / Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany)
🔗 https://marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/75d5616fa1154d41/e41630489bab/siemens-healthineers_magnetom-world_Hutter_Fetal_Low_field_MRI_ISMRM_2023_KORR.pdf

Fetal MRI: State of the Art and New Insights
by Lucia Manganaro, et al. (Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
🔗 https://marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/4adeca232aa49009/4fc97bbcfe6c/siemens-healthineers_Manganaro_Fetal_MRI.pdf

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 30

1.5T MAGNETOM Flow for #Veterinary Practice by Lizzy Wilson (Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, Alton, UK).

🐾 Learn more and download optimized #MRI protocols at www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/hot-topics/c...

#VetSky #VeterinaryMRI #RadSky #SmallAnimalImaging

First Experiences with MAGNETOM Flow for Veterinary Practice by Lizzy Wilson, PgD, BSc (hons), HCPC (Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, Alton, UK).

When it came time to replace their MRI system, the team at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists selected the 1.5T MAGNETOM Flow, notably for its DryCool technology, which uses just 0.7 liters of liquid helium.
The system’s sealed-for-life magnet design eliminates the need for helium refills. Since helium is a finite resource, this makes the system more environmentally sustainable.

The integration of AI-assisted imaging with Deep Resolve significantly improves image quality, especially for smaller patients under 5 kg.

The new BioMatrix Contour Coils provided with the scanner are particularly well-suited to veterinary applications. They are flexible and soft, enabling close contact with the animal, which enhances signal quality.

While initial protocol development posed a challenge, the optimized protocols are now available on the MAGNETOM World site to benefit other veterinary practices.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 28

We have compiled a comprehensive resource hub on MR Elastography (MRE) including:
🧾 Articles
💡 Tips & tricks
🧲 MRI protocols
🎥 Step-by-step videos
🎙️ Expert talks
Explore here: www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-cor...
#MRI #WorldHepatitisDay #RadSky #LiverHealth #SiemensHealthineers

Today is WorldHepatitisDay and I would like to draw your attention to MR Elastography.
MR Elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive technique to estimate the stiffness of soft tissues. Given the non-invasive nature and accuracy of diagnostic results, in recent years MRE has become a standard clinical tool to stage liver fibrosis, with and without contrast agent.

Shoutout to the authors and speakers for sharing their experience!

Figure from: Bolster B, Jin N, Kannengiesser S. MR Elastography – Pearls and Pitfalls. MAGNETOM Flash. 2018;71(2):19–23.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 27

Skip the Electrodes, But Not A Beat — Complete cardiac #MRI exams without ECG leads. Explore the BioMatrix Beat Sensor. Improving your workflow and patient experience.
www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-cor...
#CardioSky #WhyCMR #RadSky #MRIworkflow #CMR @banksgaia.bsky.social

From engineering to clinical practice, these articles offer a comprehensive view of the BioMatrix Beat Sensor in action.
Hear directly from developers, technologists, and clinicians:
🔹 MR Technologists share real-world workflow improvements
🔹 Cardiologists reflect on clinical impact and patient experience
🔹 Developers reveal the story behind the BioMatrix Beat Sensor

📄 Featured articles:
• Optimizing Cardiac MRI Workflow with Beat Sensor Technology: How We Do It by Andreas Lingg, MTR; Thomas Küstner, PhD; et al. (University Hospital Tübingen, Germany)

• Clinical Experience with the BioMatrix Beat Sensor: Cardiac MRI Exams Without ECG Leads by Naokazu Muzuno, RT; et al. (Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan)

• BioMatrix Beat Sensor — the Technologist’s Perspective by Bianca Samsula (ZEMODI, Bremen, Germany)

• Clinical Approach of BioMatrix Beat Sensor Cardiac Triggering
by Christina Karamarkou, MD and Catharina Thielmann, MD (Contilia Heart and Vascular Centre, Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Essen, Germany)

• BioMatrix Beat Sensor: Initial Clinical Experience at a Regional Cardiac MR Center by Aashish Goela, MD and Douglas Cesarin, MRT (London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada)

• Skip the Electrodes, But Not A Beat: The Engineering Behind the Beat Sensor by Peter Speier, PhD and Mario Bacher (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany)

🎥 Watch the team behind the technology – Peter Speier, Mario Bacher, Carmel Hayes, and Manuela Rick – discuss the innovation journey

👏 A heartfelt thank you to all authors and co-authors for sharing their experience and for contributing to MAGNETOM Flash!

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 24

Tactile Training in Lower-Field Interventional #MRI by Nathan Ooms, MS, BS, RT(R)(MR)(MRSO); et al. (Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA).
marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/8dda4b926fa2...

#InterventionalRadiology #iMRI #MRISafety #MRIEducation #RadSky

As MRI-guided interventions become more viable with advances in real-time imaging and in low- and midfield systems, there is a growing need for accessible, hands-on training tools that build operator confidence and procedural accuracy.

Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, a 0.55T MAGNETOM Free.Max system has been fitted to meet the needs of a preclinical, investigational setting. Four MRI display monitors (NordicNeuroLab, Bergen, Norway) on MR-conditional boom arms allow for visualization of images.
An MR-conditional wireless headset system enables continuous communication between the MRI technologist at the helm and the interventionalist and staff in the MR room even during imaging.

In any procedure, the technologist is responsible for the safety of the patient and the personnel in the magnet room. It can be a daunting task, and one of the main components of any successful venture is communication.
In traditional X-ray imaging, users warn others about “X-ray!”; CT systems display warning lights that read “CT in use”; and during live X-ray imaging, interventionalists call for “fluoro”.

The language of interventional MRI (iMRI) is still evolving, but it should be clear and consistent. The authors describe their collaborative efforts to establish a unique, agreed-upon language that assists in successful communication – an iMRI language that helps to streamline procedures while maintaining safety for all involved.

Shoutout to the co-authors: Faith Sheard, Maya Olson, Zachary Hillan, Elyssia Wellington, Joshua Krieger, Florian Maier, Axel Krafft, Debra Patterson

👉 Please note: The interactive real-time imaging user interface (UI) is work in progress. The product is still under development and not commercially available. Its future availability cannot be ensured.

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 22

#ASL is a non-invasive #MRI technique using water in arterial blood to measure perfusion. Available in 2D & 3D, it supports relCBF & BAT mapping. Useful in brain tumors, dementia, stroke & more. Learn more: www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/clinical-cor...
#NeuroSky #ArterialSpinLabeling

Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) is an MRI technique that uses the water in arterial blood as an endogenous contrast agent to non-invasively evaluate perfusion. ASL is available as a 2D EPI sequence (ASL 2D) and as a 3D GRASE sequence (ASL 3D).

Both ASL 2D and ASL 3D include a separate M0 scan and an inline calculation of relative cerebral blood flow (relCBF) maps for a quantitative evaluation of perfusion.
ASL 3D can be run with a single TI or multiple TI's. The latter are used for fitting the Buxton model to the inflow curve, providing both relCBF and bolus arrival time BAT maps.

Clinical applications of ASL include:
- Evaluation of brain tumors
- Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia
- Acute stroke and evaluation of Transient Ischemic Cerebral Attack (TIA)
- Chronic cerebrovascular disease
- Functional evaluation of the brain using BOLD techniques
- Pre-interventional planning

Figure from: Álvarez-Linera J, Vidorreta M, Padilla RH, Martínez Gálvez L, Pfeuffer J. High-Resolution Perfusion Imaging using 3D Arterial Spin Labeling in the Brain. MAGNETOM Flash. 2024;89(4):22–29.

Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 16

MRI-Guided Thermal Ablation in Urologic Oncology: The Nijmegen Experience by Jurgen J. Fütterer, PhD; et al. (@radboudumc.bsky.social).

marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/9210bdf555b7...

#MRI #iMRI #InterventionalRadiology #ProstateCancer
#SiemensHealth @mritobi.bsky.social

MRI-Guided Thermal Ablation in Urologic Oncology: The Nijmegen Experience
By Jurgen J. Fütterer, PhD; et al. (Department of Medical Imaging, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands).

Interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) has expanded the possibilities for interventional treatments and is becoming an essential tool for image-guided therapies in urologic oncology. Unlike ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT), MRI provides high-resolution images and excellent soft tissue contrast for prostate and kidney lesions, aiding in precise tumor localization and distinct tumor border identification. This capability supports real-time targeting of lesions while safeguarding adjacent critical structures.
Additionally, MRI permits ongoing monitoring and management of the treatment process, including mapping tissue temperatures during thermal therapies. Notably, it does not involve ionizing radiation, which is particularly important for younger patients and for cases requiring several interventions

At Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), MRI-guided prostate treatments began in 2011, followed by the first MRI-guided kidney treatment in 2012. These procedures are performed using a dedicated wide-bore 3T MRI system (MAGNETOM Skyra) in a sterile operating room environment.

In this article, the authors share their experience with various MRI-guided prostate treatments, including:
- Cryoablation
- Focal laser ablation
- Transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA)
- MRI-guided cryoablation of renal tumors.

Shoutout to the co-authors: Joyce Bomers, Sjoerd Jenniskens, Christiaan G. Overduin

Reposted by Antje Hellwich

Magnetic Resonance News @nmr900.bsky.social · Jul 13

MR Basics : Definitions and explanations of MR terms and sequences #SiemensHealth free to download www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/publications... #NMRchat #NMR #MRISky 🧲 @antjehellwich.bsky.social

MR Basics

Definitions and explanations of MR terms and sequences.

www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 13

#MRI safety training is essential for the safe operation of your system. This deck of Q&A cards helps you cover all key topics – great for team refreshers or quick self-checks.

Download in English, French, Spanish, or Swedish at www.magnetomworld.siemens-healthineers.com/publications...
#MRISafety

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 11

Establishing an #MRI Guided Intervention Service Using a 0.55T System: Initial Experiences and Workflow Development
by Jan Robert Kroeger, M.D.; et al. (@ruhr-uni-bochum.de).

🔗 Learn more marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/2729404a852e...

#iMRI #InterventionalRadiology #LowFieldMRI

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 9

Interventional #MRI in the Liver: Why, When, and Where?
By Daniel Düx, MD; et al. ( @uni-magdeburg.de / Hannover Medical School, Germany).
🔗 marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/d67d220657dd...

#iMRI #interventionalRadiology #LiverBiopsy #MagnetomWorld #ImageGuidedTherapy #RadSky #MedSky

Liver cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers and a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. Minimally invasive, nonsurgical local liver therapies play a key role in appropriately selected patients with hepatobiliary cancer.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a compelling solution for liver interventions by providing multiplanar, real-time needle guidance without exposure to ionizing radiation.
It has excellent soft tissue contrast, outstanding spatial and temporal resolution, and functional imaging capabilities like diffusion-weighted imaging. Additionally, real-time temperature measurement during liver ablation helps to ensure complete tumor destruction while preserving surrounding healthy tissue and thus minimizing collateral damage

The integration of MRI guidance into hepatobiliary cancer diagnosis and treatment marks a significant advancement in interventional oncology. Its unique qualities enhance precise and safe planning, execution and monitoring of liver biopsies, liver tumor ablation, and percutaneous biliary drainage.

Shoutout and thank you to the coauthors: Marcel Gutberlet, Dominik Horstmann, Julian Glandorf, Bennet Hensen, Frank Wacker
Forschungscampus STIMULATE, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany / Department of Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

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Antje Hellwich @antjehellwich.bsky.social · Jul 3

MRI-Guided vs. CT-Guided Interventions: A Focus on the Liver by Max Seidensticker, M.D.; et al. (@lmuradiology.bsky.social, Munich, Germany).
🔗 marketing.webassets.siemens-healthineers.com/2f40dcbe0e82...

#MRI #InterventionalRadiology #LiverBiopsy #MRIguidedIntervention #RadSky #MagnetomWorld

Liver biopsy and thermal ablation of liver tumors are well-established procedures, typically performed under CT or ultrasound (US) guidance. However, small tumors are barely visible (especially on CT imaging), and unfavorable localizations for CT and US guidance (e.g., in the liver dome) increase the risk of sampling errors or incomplete ablation. For liver tumors < 3 cm in size, a sampling error of around 20% has been published. Furthermore, biopsy under CT guidance bears the risk of X-ray exposure, especially for the interventional radiologist.

MRI provides a high soft tissue contrast that can even be enhanced for a prolonged period with hepatocyte-specific contrast agents. This enables better visualization of liver tumors than with CT or US imaging, where contrast enhancement is limited to a short period of time during the contrast agent administration.

Furthermore, the slice orientation can be chosen freely in MRI. This allows a slice orientation along the needle trajectory, displaying needle and target within the slice regardless of the complexity of the angulation.

MRI can be performed as fluoroscopic imaging with a fast frame rate of less than one second per image. Even an alternating display of the needle path in perpendicular projections is possible.

As a consequence, small lesions and oblique needle access do not represent a limitation for biopsy or ablation under MRI guidance. With regard to liver biopsies, clinical success rates of around 90% for MRI-guided biopsies were described in some early studies, and, in some smaller case series, they were even higher (> 90%).

Shoutout and thank you to the co-authors: Matthias Fabritius, M.D. and Jens Ricke, M.D.

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