Magnetic resonance elastography of liver and spleen: Methods and applications

The viscoelastic properties of the liver and spleen can be assessed with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Several actuators, MRI acquisition sequences and reconstruction algorithms have been proposed for this purpose. Reproducible results are obtained, especially when the examination is performed in standard conditions with the patient fasting. Accurate staging of liver fibrosis can be obtained by measuring liver stiffness or elasticity with MRE. Moreover, emerging evidence shows that assessing the tissue viscous parameters with MRE is useful for characterizing liver inflammation, non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic congestion, portal hypertension, and hepatic tumors. Further advances such as multifrequency acquisitions and compression‐sensitive MRE may provide novel quantitative markers of hepatic and splenic mechanical properties that may improve the diagnosis of hepatic and splenic diseases. The visco‐elastic properties of the liver and spleen can be assessed with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). This review focuses first on acquisition hardware, sequences, and reconstructions, before examining the numerous validation studies available in the field, and finally examines the various clinical applications for liver and spleen MR elastography. Further advances such as multifrequency acquisitions and compression‐sensitive MRE may provide novel quantitative markers of hepatic and splenic mechanical properties that may improve the diagnosis of hepatic and...
Source: NMR in Biomedicine - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: SPECIAL ISSUE REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research