Abstract #4297

Volumetric Brain Temperature Monitoring with the MASTER Sequence: Multiple Adjacent Slice Thermometry with Excitation Refocusing

Michael Marx¹, Juan C. Plata², Kim Butts Pauly³

¹Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; ²Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; ³Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States

The MASTER sequence is a new approach to multi-slice thermometry with longer TEs and better measurement accuracy than comparable interleaved SPGR sequences. MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been used to treat brain disorders including essential tremor and neuropathic pain. Current treatments are monitored using a single slice thermometry. MASTER will allow for larger volumes of temperature monitoring during treatment, helping ensure patient safety by warning clinicians if undesired heating occurs in healthy brain tissue.