It is a simple algorithm for interpretation of abdominal X-RAY Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Liver lesion: review Technique and Clinical Applications Many pathological processes cause marked changes in the mechanical properties of tissue.
Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive MRI based technique for quantitatively assessing the mechanical properties of tissues in vivo. MRE is performed by using a vibration source to generate low frequency mechanical waves in tissue, imaging the propagating waves using a phase contrast MRI technique, and then processing the wave information to generate quantitative images showing mechanical properties such as tissue stiffness. Since its first description in 1995, published studies have explored many potential clinical applications including brain, thyroid, lung, heart, breast, and skeletal muscle imaging. However, the best-documented application to emerge has been the use of MRE to assess liver disease.
Multiple studies have described many potential applications of MRE, from characterizing tumors to detecting diffuse disease processes. Studies have shown that MRE can be successfully implemented to assess abdominal organs.
studies have demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between MRE-measured hepatic stiffness and the stage of fibrosis at histology. The emerging literature indicates that MRE can serve as a safer, less expensive, and potentially more accurate alternative to invasive liver biopsy which is currently the gold standard for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis.
The technique essentially involves three steps:
generating shear waves in the tissue,
acquiring MR images depicting the propagation of the induced shear waves and
processing the images of the shear waves to generate quantitative maps of tissue stiffness, called elastograms
This review describes the basic principles, technique of performing a liver MRE, analysis and calculation of stiffness, clinical applications, limitations, and potential future applications.
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