Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Hepatic Fibrosis Diagnosis Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography and AI
Published on: July 21, 2023
Intra-patient comparison of 3D and 2D magnetic resonance elastography techniques for assessment of liver stiffness
Roberta Catania1, Camila Lopes Vendrami2, Bradley D Bolster3
1Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. roberta.catania@northwestern.edu.
Purpose:
To evaluate performance of 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) using spin-echo echo-planar imaging (seEPI) for assessment of hepatic stiffness compared with 2D gradient-recalled echo (GRE) and 2D seEPI sequences.
Methods:
Fifty-seven liver MRE examinations including 2D GRE, 2D seEPI, and 3D seEPI sequences were retrospectively evaluated. Elastograms were analyzed by 2 radiologists and polygonal regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn in 2 different fashions: "curated" ROI (avoiding liver edge, major vessels, and areas of wave interferences) and "non-curated" ROI (including largest cross section of liver, to assess the contribution of artifacts). Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was calculated as the arithmetic mean of individual stiffness values for each technique. For 3D MRE, LSMs were also calculated based on 4 slices ("abbreviated LSM"). Intra-patient variations in LSMs and different methods of ROI placement were assessed by univariate tests. A p-value of < 0.05 was set as a statistically significant difference.
Results:
Mean surface areas of the ROIs were 50,723 mm2, 12,669 mm2, 5814 mm2, and 10,642 mm2 for 3D MRE, abbreviated 3D MRE, 2D GRE, and 2D seEPI, respectively. 3D LSMs based on curated and non-curated ROIs showed no clinically significant difference, with a mean difference less than 0.1 kPa. Abbreviated 3D LSMs had excellent correlation with 3D LSMs based on all slices (r = 0.9; p < 0.001) and were not significantly different (p = 0.927).
Conclusion:
3D MRE allows more reproducible measurements due to its lower susceptibility to artifacts and provides larger areas of parenchyma, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of the liver.
Insights
Three-dimensional magnetic resonance elastography (3D MRE) offers more reproducible hepatic stiffness measurements than 2D techniques. This advanced method provides larger parenchymal areas for comprehensive liver evaluation with reduced artifact susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Hepatology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring liver diseases.
- Conventional 2D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) techniques have limitations in reproducibility and artifact susceptibility.
- Advancements in MRE aim to improve accuracy and comprehensiveness in assessing hepatic stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of 3D MRE using spin-echo echo-planar imaging (seEPI) for hepatic stiffness assessment.
- To compare 3D MRE (seEPI) with conventional 2D gradient-recalled echo (GRE) and 2D seEPI sequences.
- To assess the impact of region of interest (ROI) placement and abbreviated analysis on 3D MRE measurements.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 57 liver MRE examinations using 2D GRE, 2D seEPI, and 3D seEPI sequences.
- Elastograms analyzed with both "curated" (artifact-avoiding) and "non-curated" ROIs.
- Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) calculated, including abbreviated LSMs from 4 slices for 3D MRE.
- Statistical analysis using univariate tests with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- 3D MRE provided significantly larger ROI surface areas compared to 2D techniques.
- 3D LSMs using curated and non-curated ROIs showed no clinically significant difference (<0.1 kPa mean difference).
- Abbreviated 3D LSMs demonstrated excellent correlation (r=0.9, p<0.001) and no significant difference compared to full 3D MRE LSMs (p=0.927).
Conclusions:
- 3D MRE enables more reproducible hepatic stiffness measurements due to reduced susceptibility to artifacts.
- The technique allows for evaluation of larger liver parenchymal areas, leading to a more comprehensive assessment.
- Abbreviated 3D MRE analysis provides reliable and correlated results with full 3D MRE, enhancing clinical utility.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Ultrasound II: Endoscopic Ultrasound and FibroScan
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging