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National Center for Image Guided Therapy

Prostate Imaging

16x16 images reconstructed from an MRSI acquisition using the GE MRS phantom. From: Panych L, Roebuck J, Chen N. Correcting for center frequency variations in MRSI data using the partially suppressed water signal. Abstract, Intl Soc Mag Reson Med 2007.

The Prostate and Imaging Cores of the NCIGT collaborate on many aspects of improving imaging during interventional treatment of the prostate. Already investigators have used a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence during ongoing human prostate treatment studies (recompiled for use on the 3T GE short bore system) after it extracted T2 values with considerable prostate cancer discrimination capabilities.

Other important experiments are being conducted to determine the optimal MR protocol for imaging nerves surrounding the prostate to spare them during prostate interventions. Also, imaging researchers are using RF encoding to spatial localize MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) that is being included in human prostate studies. More on the MRSI work....

Other imaging research progress related to image-guided prostate treatment includes:

  • a recompiling of a line scan echo planar spectroscopic imaging (LSEPSI) sequence (to run with system upgrades GE14.x) for use in prostate and breast focused ultrasound procedures. In experiments involving the breast, LSEPSI improved the stability of temperature change mapping.
  • testing the UNFOLD parallel imaging for feasibility in the prostate focused ultrasound animal trial to determine if the “referenceless thermometry” that is used in uterine fibroid treatment (an FDA-approved procedure) would also aid prostate treatments in the presence of motion.
  • developed software to fit dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) data to a pharmacokinetic model to quantify perfusion in prostate. Along with thermal simulations, this data can be used to estimate the effect of cooling water in the MRgFUS prostate system. These DCE sequences are being optimized for human studies at 3T MR.
  • evaluating prostate biopsy needle artifact caused at 3T to establish an imaging protocol that provides clearer images during the intervention. For this experiment, five imaging sequences were compared: fast spin echo (FSE), single shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE), single shot fast spin-echo with reduced field of view (rFOV SSFSE), fast imaging with steady-state acquisition (FIESTA), and fast gradient echo (FGRE). Compared to other sequences, rFOV SSFSE had less signal void and imaging time and deemed the most appropriate. To test the protocol further, researchers will use it with a phantom to quantify needle position error.

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