Multi-institutional survey on abdominopelvic applications of MR elastography

To investigate the knowledge and expectations of abdominopelvic MR elastography (MRE) among radiologists from multiple institutions, and to rate the image quality of MRE maps.

Radiologists from Beijing and Tianjin were invited to participate in an online survey. Full MRE maps of the uterus, prostate, pancreas, liver, and kidney from 93 research papers published between 2017 and 2024 were displayed for image quality rating, blinded to the MRE systems. Before and after the image-review session, the participants' knowledge and expectations about abdominopelvic MRE were investigated.

Eighty-one radiologists finalized the survey, all but one from tertiary hospitals. Their knowledge of MRE mainly came from the literature and conferences, and only 29.6% had hands-on experience. Additional setup and scanning time, as well as patient safety and comfort, were the major concerns that may hinder MRE application. Parametric maps from two MRE systems were reviewed, and the pressurized air (PA) system exhibited consistently higher subjective image quality for all five abdominopelvic organs compared to the acoustic driver (AD) system (all p < 0.05). The participants' knowledge about MRE improved after the image-review session, whereas their expectation declined regarding its utility in abdominopelvic tumor detection, characterization, staging, and treatment monitoring. Technical unfamiliarity with MRE was high, with ignorance rates ranging from 42.0% to 64.2%.

There was limited knowledge and availability of MRE even in tertiary hospitals in China's capital region. Currently available MRE systems offer varying levels of anatomical details, and the PA system might be more advantageous for applications in abdominopelvic oncology.

Question The radiologists' current knowledge and expectations of abdominopelvic MRE remained poorly investigated, and the impact of MRE image quality was unknown. Findings There was limited knowledge and availability of MRE in China's capital region, and MRE systems didn't consistently achieve sufficient image quality for abdominopelvic oncology. Clinical relevance Although MRE holds promise for abdominopelvic oncology, its availability and familiarity among radiologists remain low, and the image quality of MRE maps is sometimes insufficient. System optimization and targeted education are essential for future integration into clinical practice.