Validation of RF-induced temperature increase in a phantom: comparison of numerical simulations, MR thermometry and measurements from temperature sensors.

In this study, we compared the temperature increase calculated by the simulations and measured by the MR-thermometry in a phantom with those measured by the optical temperature sensors, with good agreement between the methods. To ensure safety, IEC guidelines require simulations of SAR along with validation in phantoms. While it is likely impossible to simulate every possible pulse shape and phase combination in a pTx system with a large number of transmit channels, the results we present here suggest that simulations plus MR-thermometry could provide the verification currently lacking in pTx studies.