Transurethral prostate thermotherapy: filtering the bowel motion during MR-thermometry processing

Background/introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided transurethral ultrasound therapy is a minimally-invasive image-guided treatment for localized prostate cancer offering precise targeting of tissue within the gland. The accuracy of MR thermometry is critical for precise on-line feedback control as well as for monitoring potential thermal injury of surrounding tissues, especially the rectum wall. The PRFS thermometry method used is sensitive to tissue motion and change in the local magnetic susceptibility which might be related to the motion of air bubbles in the rectum in the particular case of MR controlled prostate cancer therapy.