Guanshu Liu1,
2, Qin Qin2, Kannie W.Y. Chan3, 4,
Jeff W.M. Bulte3, 4, Michael T. McMahon1,
2, Peter C.M. van Zijl1, 2, Assaf A. Gilad3,
4
1F.M.
Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger
Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States; 2Department of Radiology,
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; 3Department
of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; 4Cellular
Imaging Section, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
Monitoring of temperature changes in deep-seated tissues is a necessity during the course of cancer thermotherapy. Among currently available MR temperature mapping methods, water proton resonance frequency (PRF) imaging is the most widely used technology, but it is often hampered by interference from lipid signals. We developed a new approach for assessing the water PRF through direct water saturation to overcome problems with fat resonance interference. Compared to phase mapping, the currently most popular PRF measurement method, the temperature-responsive water saturation shift referencing (T-WASSR) method was demonstrated with an improved performance in fat-containing tissue.