Porcine liver machine perfusion under MRI to study the influence of hepatic arterial blood flow on microsphere distribution in radioembolization

Motivation: Patients undergoing transarterial radioembolization (TARE) present with a broad range of hepatic arterial (HA) blood flows. Whether the HA blood flow affects the distribution of microspheres remains unknown. Goal(s): To investigate the influence of HA blood flow on microsphere distribution via an MRI-compatible ex vivo porcine liver machine perfusion set-up. Approach: Paramagnetic holmium microspheres were injected in the HA under varying arterial blood flow conditions. Holmium-sensitive T2*-weighed MRI scans were acquired to study the microsphere distribution. Results: The MRI-based dose maps revealed more homogenous distribution patterns for higher HA flows compared to lower flows. Impact: Our ex vivo porcine liver perfusion setup under MRI provides an unique platform to assess the influence of patient-specific parameters during TARE. This platform may also contribute to the detailed study of various liver diseases and potential treatments under MRI.