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Magnetic resonance elastography: evaluation of new inversion algorithm and quantitative analysis method

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess mean shear hepatic stiffness calculations using various region of interest (ROI) techniques, a new inversion algorithm, and a confidence threshold mask.

Methods

Seventy-three patients (49 with abnormal liver function tests/known chronic liver disease and 24 healthy liver transplant donors) underwent liver biopsy and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). MRE data processed with the current inversion algorithm [multiscale direct inversion (MSDI)] was assessed using 2 ROI methods (single vs. triple). The data were then reprocessed using the new inversion algorithm (multimodel direct inversion [MMDI]) Hepatic stiffness calculations were performed using a single (70%) ROI method, with/without a 95% confidence threshold mask, and compared with MSDI.

Results

For MSDI, average stiffness difference between single and triple ROI methods was not statistically significant by the 2-sample t test [0.15 kilopascals (kPa); P = .77]. For the 2 algorithms, there was little difference in average stiffness measurements of MSDI and MMDI (mean, 0.32 kPa; 9%) using a confidence mask with good agreement [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 0.986 (95% CI 0.975–0.994)]. Use of the confidence mask showed excellent consistency and less variance [ICC, 0.995 (95% CI 0.993–0.998)] compared to either the inter-observer or intra-observer freehand technique.

Conclusion

MRE analysis showed no significant difference between the 2 freehand ROI techniques. With a 9% average kPa variance, stiffness measurements for MSDI and MMDI were also not significantly different. The use of the confidence mask reduces calculated stiffness variability, which impacts the use of MRE for assessing therapy response and initial/longitudinal assessment of chronic liver disease.

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Abbreviations

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

kPA:

Kilopascals

MMDI:

Multimodel direct inversion

MRE:

Magnetic resonance elastography

MSDI:

Multiscale direct inversion

ROI:

Region of interest

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Conflict of interest

Richard L. Ehman holds patents and has a financial interest through royalties related to MRE technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Roger C. Grimm, Kevin J. Glaser & Richard L. Ehman

  2. Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Richard L. Ehman

  3. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA

    Alvin C. Silva

  4. School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Yinlin Fu & Teresa Wu

  5. Barrett, The Honors College, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Annelise M. Silva

Authors
  1. Annelise M. Silva
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  2. Roger C. Grimm
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  3. Kevin J. Glaser
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  4. Yinlin Fu
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  5. Teresa Wu
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  6. Richard L. Ehman
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  7. Alvin C. Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alvin C. Silva.

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Silva, A.M., Grimm, R.C., Glaser, K.J. et al. Magnetic resonance elastography: evaluation of new inversion algorithm and quantitative analysis method. Abdom Imaging 40, 810–817 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0372-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0372-5

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