Magnetic resonance elastography of liver

Sudhakar Kundapur Venkatesh; Richard L Ehman

doi:10.1016/j.mric.2014.05.001

Magnetic resonance elastography of liver

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2014 Aug;22(3):433-46. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2014.05.001.

Authors

Sudhakar Kundapur Venkatesh¹, Richard L Ehman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: venkatesh.sudhakar@mayo.edu.
² Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) assesses tissue stiffness in vivo by imaging propagating shear waves through the tissues and processing the wave information. MRE is a robust technology with excellent technical success; is applicable in almost all patients and body habitus; and has excellent reproducibility, repeatability, and interobserver agreement for assessing liver stiffness. It is currently the most accurate noninvasive technique for detection and staging of liver fibrosis and has the potential to replace liver biopsy. This article describes the principles and technique of MRE, current clinical applications, and emerging clinical indications.

Keywords: Chronic liver diseases; Cirrhosis; Diffuse liver diseases; Focal lesions; Liver fibrosis; MR elastography.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Elasticity Imaging Techniques / methods*
Humans
Liver / pathology*
Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Reproducibility of Results

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding