Noninvasive thermometry using hyperfine-shifted MR signals from paramagnetic lanthanide complexes

MR thermometry techniques based on the strong water H-1 signal provide high spatial and temporal resolution and have shown promise for applications such as laser surgery and RF ablation. However, these techniques have low temperature sensitivity for hyperthermia applications and are greatly influenced by local motion and susceptibility variations. H-1 NMR signals from paramagnetic lanthanide complexes of Pr3+, Yb3+ and Tm3+ show up to 300-fold stronger temperature dependence compared to the water H-1 signal. In addition, H-1 chemical shifts of many of these complexes are insensitive to other factors such as the concentration of the paramagnetic complex, pH, [Ca2+], and the presence of plasma macro-molecules and ions. Applications of lanthanide complexes for temperature measurement in intact animals and the feasibility of mapping temperatures in phantoms have been demonstrated. Among all the lanthanide complexes examined so far, thulium 1, 4, 7, 10-tetramethyl-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetate (TmDOTMA(-)) appears to be the most attractive for in vivo MR thermometry. The H-1 signal from the methyl groups on this complex is relatively intense because of 12 equivalent protons and provides high temperature sensitivity because of the large paramagnetic shifts induced by thulium. The possibility of imaging TmDOTMA(2)-in intact animals at physiologically safe concentrations has recently been demonstrated. Overall, MR thermometry methods based on hyperfine-shifted MR signals from paramagnetic lanthanide complexes appear promising for animal applications, but further studies relating to acceptable dose and signal-to-noise ratio are necessary before clinical use.