ON THE POTENTIAL FOR GUIDANCE OF ABLATION THERAPY USING ACOUSTIC RADIATION FORCE IMPULSE IMAGING

Acoustic radiation force imaging methods utilize acoustic radiation force to mechanically excite tissue, and the tissue response is monitored with conventional imaging methods. Radiation force based methods comprise a subset of elasticity imaging, in which images reflect relative differences in tissue stiffness. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is one such method that is implemented on a modified diagnostic ultrasound scanner, using the same transducer for the excitation and monitoring of the tissue response. ARFI imaging is under investigation for its potential to monitor thermal ablation procedures because thermal lesions are associated with considerable (> 4 times) stiffness increases as compared to viable tissue. Applications include monitoring radiofrequency ablation procedures in the liver, kidney, and heart, and monitoring focused ultrasound ablation procedures. We present results from ongoing studies in these areas