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Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Magnetic Resonance Elastography Methodology for the Evaluation of Tissue Engineered Construct Growth
Published on: February 9, 2012
Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Intervertebral Discs: Spin-Echo Echo-Planar Imaging Sequence Validation
Megan Co1, Huiming Dong2, Daniel J Boulter2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Background:
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an imaging technique that can noninvasively assess the shear properties of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Unlike the standard gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRE technique, a spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SE-EPI) sequence has the potential to improve imaging efficiency and patient compliance.
Purpose:
To validate the use of an SE-EPI sequence for MRE of the IVD compared against the standard GRE sequence.
Study Type:
Cross-over.
Subjects:
Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (15 males and 13 females, age range: 19-55).
Field Strength/Sequence:
3 T; GRE, SE-EPI with breath holds (SE-EPI-BH) and SE-EPI with free breathing (SE-EPI-FB) MRE sequences.
Assessment:
MRE-derived shear stiffnesses were calculated via principal frequency analysis. SE-EPI derived shear stiffness and octahedral shear strain signal-to-noise ratios (OSS-SNR) were compared against those derived using the GRE sequence. The reproducibility and repeatability of SE-EPI stiffness measurements were determined. Shear stiffness was evaluated in the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) regions of the disc. Scan times between sequences were compared.
Statistical Tests:
Linear mixed models, Bland-Altman plots, and Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) were used with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
Good correlation was observed between shear stiffnesses derived from the SE-EPI sequences with those derived from the GRE sequence with CCC values greater than 0.73 and 0.78 for the NP and AF regions, respectively. OSS-SNR was not significantly different between GRE and SE-EPI sequences (P > 0.05). SE-EPI sequences generated highly reproducible and repeatable stiffness measurements with CCC values greater than 0.97 in the NP and AF regions and reduced scan time by at least 51% compared to GRE. SE-EPI-BH and SE-EPI-FB stiffness measurements were similar with CCC values greater than 0.98 for both regions.
Data Conclusion:
SE-EPI-based MRE-derived stiffnesses were highly reproducible and repeatable and correlated with current standard GRE MRE-derived stiffness estimates while reducing scan times.
Level Of Evidence:
1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.
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