A thermal ablation includes a thermal ablation apparatus configured to perform thermal ablation on a targeted tissue according to plan data of a treatment during a therapy mode of the thermal ablation system. An MR apparatus is configured to perform T2* weighted MR imaging of the targeted tissue to assess a therapeutic response of the thermal ablation during an assessment mode of the thermal ablation system. A control apparatus is configured to switch the thermal ablation system between the therapy mode and the assessment mode. The thermal ablation apparatus is activated to perform the thermal ablation in the therapy mode. The thermal ablation apparatus is deactivated to terminate the thermal ablation and the MR apparatus is activated to perform the T2* weighted MR imaging in the assessment mode.
