REAL-TIME BIPLANAR NEEDLE TRACKING FOR INTERVENTIONAL MR-IMAGING PROCEDURES

PURPOSE: To evaluate real-time biplanar tracking of a specially design ed needle with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The needle is made of polyetheretherketone and has a miniatu re radio-frequency coil incorporated into the tip. Tracking software o n two workstations is used to compute three-dimensional coordinates of the coil and to display the position as a moving symbol in two imagin g planes. Validation of needle tracking was performed in a harvested h uman liver. T2-weighted fast spin-echo images were used to target a 1- cm cyst. Success of needle placement was confirmed with aspiration and with updated gradient-recalled-echo images. RESULTS: The cyst was suc cessfully targeted from different approaches. Tracking procedures were monitored in real time simultaneously on two separate images. CONCLUS ION: Real-time biplanar needle tracking may prove to be useful for bot h diagnostic and therapeutic interventional MR imaging procedures.