Validation Study of Magnetic Resonance Elastography and 2-Point Dixon MR Imaging Techniques in Diffuse Liver Disease

Finding liver damage as early as possible is important. Traditionally, biopsies have been used for this purpose. Biopsies are accurate but can only check a small part of the liver. Tissue fat and liver stiffness are common in patients with liver disease.This study is testing new MRI techniques (called an MRE) that may be able to test for these symptoms on the entire liver, in a short time.

A typical MRI uses a large magnet instead of x-rays to take pictures of the inside of your body. The MRE will be done on a standard MRI scanner.

Study Visit:

The MRE procedure is useful for identifying tissue stiffness. For the MRE procedure, you will lie on your back on the examination table, and a pneumatic driver (a light-weight, clear plastic drum, about 10 inches wide and 1 inch thick) will be placed over the upper abdomen. You will feel a vibration (like a cell phone or beeper vibrating). This vibration will create very small waves in the body. The scanner will then receive the vibrations from the liver and use them to create images of the liver tissue. The MRE will take about 40 seconds. The driver will only be turned on during this time.

Once the MRE is completed, you will then have a 2PD MRI scan while you are still lying on the table. This procedure is useful in identifying fat tissue. This will take about 20-60 seconds. The total exam time will be no more than 20 minutes, including the preparation time.