MR elastography of liver: current status and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging
• Biophysics

Background:

• Non-invasive liver fibrosis evaluation has advanced significantly.
• Elastography techniques are primary clinical tools for chronic liver disease (CLD).
• Liver Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is established for fibrosis detection and staging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of liver MRE in CLD.
• To describe advanced MRE techniques and innovations.
• To highlight MRE's role in understanding CLD pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) to visualize shear waves in the liver.
• Employs a two-dimensional gradient recalled echo (2D-GRE) sequence for elastogram generation.
• Leverages inversion algorithms to calculate liver stiffness from shear wave properties.

Main Results:

• MRE accurately detects and stages liver fibrosis in CLD of various etiologies.
• Emerging clinical indications for MRE continue to expand.
• Advanced MRE techniques promise enhanced speed and reliability.

Conclusions:

• MRE is a vital non-invasive method for liver fibrosis assessment.
• Innovations in MRE, including 3D MRE and new mechanical parameter evaluation, offer comprehensive CLD insights.
• Future MRE developments will improve CLD evaluation and understanding.