Validation of MR thermometry technology: a small animal model for hyperthermic treatment of tumours.

Background: Local hyperthermia has been shown to be an effective adjuvant therapy for cancer. However, progress in this treatment modality requires the non-invasive assessment of temperature distribution in the entire tumour to enable administration of an efficient thermal dose to all tumour areas. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers a promising tool to quantify, non-invasively and three-dimensionally, temperature distribution within tumours. An animal model taking into account the complex interrelationship between pathophysiological changes within a tumour during hyperthermia and temperature-sensitive MR parameters is warranted for the development and validation of new MR thermometry technology.

Methods: An experimental set-up was implemented to allow simultaneous measurements of temperature, tumour blood flow and temperature-sensitive MR parameters under standardised conditions in vivo. Local hyperthermia was induced at 44 degrees C for 20 min under inhalation anaesthesia on seven Syrian Golden hamsters bearing an amelanotic melanoma. Fibreoptic probes were used for reference temperature measurements. Laser Doppler flowmetry served for on-line tumour blood flow determination, and MR thermometry was performed using longitudinal T1 relaxation time measurements.

Results: The experimental design enables multifunctional MR thermometry. T1 relaxation times of tumours were 1.44 s (1.36, 1.46) and 1.53 s (1. 48, 1.75) at 37 degrees C and during hyperthermia at 44 degrees C, respectively (median, 25% and 75% quartiles, respectively; P<0.05). At the end of 20 min of hyperthermic treatment at 44 degrees C, relative tumour blood flow was reduced to 40.5% (20.7, 43.3) compared to values before treatment (median, 25% and 75% quartiles, respectively; P<0.05). Imaging of T1 relaxation times revealed a heterogeneous distribution in temperature during hyperthermic treatment.

Conclusion: This novel in vivo model allows standardised investigations for the development and validation of MR thermography methods.