Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a rapidly developing technology for assessing the mechanical properties of fibrotic tissue. It is a technique to quantitatively evaluate the propagation of mechanical shear waves through organ tissue. Charter Radiology is the only outpatient imaging facility to offer this advanced imaging technique.
Liver fibrosis is an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins including collagen that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. Advanced liver fibrosis results in cirrhosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension, where liver transplantation may be the only treatment option. Diagnosis traditionally requires liver biopsy and there is an acknowledged need for accurate less invasive methods to detect and follow chronic liver disease. These challenges have led to increasing interest in MR Elastography as a clinical tool.
MRE is the non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis.
Indications for MR Elastography
- Chronic liver disease
- Viral hepatitis C
- Cirrhosis
- Non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Hepatic tumors
- Pediatric fibrosis
- Liver transplant
