MRI Elastography (MRE) What is MRI Elastography?

 MRI Elastography (MRE) is an advanced imaging technique that measures the stiffness of soft tissues using MRI. It's particularly valuable for assessing liver diseases but can also be used in other organs like the brain, muscles, and breast.

What is MRI Elastography?

MRI Elastography is a non-invasive imaging technique that:

• Combines traditional MRI with low-frequency mechanical vibrations.

• Captures how shear waves travel through tissue.

• Produces a quantitative map (called an elastogram) showing tissue stiffness.

How Does It Work?

1. Mechanical vibrations (usually 30–60 Hz) are applied to the body using an external driver.

2. These vibrations create shear waves that move through the tissue.

3. MRI sequences (usually phase-contrast sequences) track the wave movement.

4. Software generates color-coded maps showing the stiffness values in kilopascals (kPa).

Main Clinical Uses

1. Liver (Most Common Use)

• Detects liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

• Provides an alternative to liver biopsy.

• Helps in staging fibrosis in chronic liver diseases (e.g., hepatitis B/C, NAFLD).

2. Brain

• Assesses stiffness changes in neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s).

• Can detect changes in brain viscoelasticity.

3. Breast

• Helps differentiate benign vs malignant tumors.

• May complement conventional breast MRI.

4. Muscles & Prostate

• Evaluates muscle disorders or prostate cancer characterization.

 MRI Elastography (MRE) What is MRI Elastography?

Advantages of MRI Elastography

• Non-invasive & no radiation.

• High reproducibility and quantitative.

• Detects early changes in tissue before anatomical changes.

• More accurate than ultrasound elastography in obese patients or deep tissues.

Sequence Parameters (Typical for Liver MRE on GE/Siemens/Philips)

• Sequence: Gradient Echo or Spin Echo EPI

• Wave Frequency: ~60 Hz

• Acquisition Time: ~1–3 minutes

• Plane: Axial through liver

• Output: Elastogram + stiffness measurement (in kPa)