MR elastography (MRE) is an MRI technique that can be used to assess liver stiffness. This is useful not only to detect the development of fibrosis in diffuse liver disease but also to quantify it and monitor liver fibrosis change with (or without) therapy.
The main advantage over ultrasound elastographic techniques is that a larger portion of the liver is sampled, reducing sampling bias.
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Procedure
Preprocedural evaluation
- patients should be fasting for 4-6 hours before the MRI exam
Equipment
- a passive pneumatic driver is connected to an active driver outside the MRI room
- this generates 60 Hz mechanical compressions over the liver
Technique
- the driver is typically placed on a supine patient over the right upper quadrant of the abdominal wall
- images should be taken in end-expiration
Practical points
- MR elastography in the liver is limited by hepatic iron deposition
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