Image engineering in interventional MRI [guided thermal ablation of tumors]

An interventional MRI system is used to guide thermal ablation of cancerous tumors. Image registration and 3D visualization techniques are found to be useful in the planning and assessment of therapy. For example, T2-weighted, Gd-enhanced, and STIR image volumes are obtained before treatment, immediately after treatment, and from serial follow-ups. Image registration of the volumes allows one to compute region of interest statistics on a given tissue section. Comparison of registered images allow us to compare the region of the thermal lesion with the tumor regions identified prior to treatment. Three-dimensional visualization allows one to determine the extent and symmetry of the thermal lesion.