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Updated: May 17, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Elastography Methodology for the Evaluation of Tissue Engineered Construct Growth
Published on: February 9, 2012
Novel technique for MR elastography of the prostate using a modified standard endorectal coil as actuator
Gregor Thörmer1, Martin Reiss-Zimmermann, Josephin Otto
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.
Purpose:
To present a novel method for MR elastography (MRE) of the prostate at 3 Tesla using a modified endorectal imaging coil.
Materials And Methods:
A commercial endorectal coil was modified to dynamically generate mechanical stress (contraction and dilation) in a prostate phantom with embedded phantom "lesions" (6 mm diameter) and in a porcine model. Resulting tissue displacements were measured with a motion-sensitive EPI sequence at actuation frequencies of 50-200 Hz. Maps of shear modulus G were calculated from the measured phase-difference shear-wave patterns.
Results:
In the G maps of the phantom, "lesions" were easily discernible against the background. The average G values of regions of interest placed in the "lesion" (8.2 ± 1.9 kPa) were much higher than those in the background (3.6 ± 1.4 kPa) but systematically lower than values reported by the vendor (13.0 ± 1.0 and 6.7 ± 0.7 kPa, respectively). In the porcine model, shear waves could be generated and measured shear moduli were substantially different for muscle (7.1 ± 2.0 kPa), prostate (3.0 ± 1.4 kPa), and bulbourethral gland (5.6 ± 1.9 kPa).
Conclusion:
An endorectal MRE concept is technically feasible. The presented technique will allow for simultaneous MRE and MRI acquisitions using a commercial base device with minor, MR-conditional modifications. The diagnostic value needs to be determined in further trials.
