Volumetric thermometry

Background/introduction Many applications of thermal therapy would benefit from temperature distribution measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution that cover a large 3D volume. Although MRI can acquire 3D temperature measurements, it is not possible to obtain fully sampled 3D MRI measurements that cover the insonified field of view with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution for most thermal therapy procedures. With multiple receiver coils, acquisition speed can be improved with undersampling and parallel image reconstruction methods. Constrained or model-based image reconstruction methods can allow increased undersampling. Depending on the anatomic region of interest, the effects of motion, chemical shift, and susceptibility need to be addressed. Non-Cartesian methods can reduce sensitivity to motion, but are less forgiving to off resonance effects. Applications to the brain and the breast are considered.