Detecting stiff masses using strain-encoded (SENC) imaging

A method is proposed for detecting stiff masses using strain-encoded (SENC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An object of interest is compressed to produce local strain distribution that depends on local elasticity, where intensities correlate with the local through-imaging-plane strain component. Because the strain is lower inside a stiff mass than in the surrounding soft tissue, an intensity contrast in the resulting images would enable direct detection of the mass without postprocessing. The technique was validated by a phantom experiment in which a gel phantom with a stiff region was used. The advantages of the proposed method include short imaging time and uncomplicated postprocessing. However, in its current form the technique does not measure elasticity.