Comparison of MR Elastography Methods Without and With Compressed Sensing

MR elastography is increasingly used to assess liver stiffness in pediatric and adult patients with chronic liver diseases. While numerous tissue abnormalities can affect liver stiffness, liver stiffness measured by MR elastography is most often used to predict and quantify liver fibrosis. Conventional MR elastography techniques require multiple breath-holds that are 12-20 seconds in length. In the pediatric population, reliable breath-holding >10 seconds can be challenging. Recently, compressed sensing has become available as a method for accelerating image data acquisition, and thus shortening breath-holds.

• Magnetic Resonance Elastography (Device): The investigators plan to prospectively assess the agreement of liver stiffness measurements obtained using standard of care MR elastography techniques vs. MR elastography with varying amounts of imaging acceleration using compressed sensing in adult volunteers

Primary outcomes

• Standard Magnetic Resonance Elastography versus Elastography with Compressed Sensing (x1.5) [30 minutes]: Four MR elastography images through the mid liver will be obtained using standard MR elastography and MR elastography with 1.5 times the amount of standard Sensing applied. Correlation Coefficient will be determined for resulting elastography data.
• Standard Magnetic Resonance Elastography versus Elastography with Compressed Sensing (x2) [30 minutes]: Four MR elastography images through the mid liver will be obtained using standard MR elastography and MR elastography with 2 times the amount of standard sensing applied. correlation coefficient will be determined for resulting elastography data.
• Standard Magnetic Resonance Elastography versus Elastography with Compressed Sensing (x3) [30 minutes]: Four MR elastography images through the mid liver will be obtained using standard MR elastography and MR elastography with 3 times the amount of standard Sensing applied. Correlation coefficient will be determined for resulting elastography data.

Secondary outcomes

• Standard Magnetic Resonance Elastography versus respiratory triggered Magnetic Resonance Elastography. [30 minutes]: Four MR elastography images through the mid liver will be obtained using standard MR elastography and MR elastography acquired using respiratory triggered Gradient Recalled Elastography. Correlation coefficient will be determined for resulting elastography data.
• Standard Magnetic Resonance Elastography versus navigated triggered Magnetic Resonance Elastography. [30 minutes]: Four MR elastography images through the mid liver will be obtained using standard MR elastography and MR elastography acquired using navigated triggered Gradient Recalled Elastography. Correlation coefficient will be determined for resulting elastography data.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 99 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult volunteers ≥18 years of age
* Ability to tolerate 30 minutes in an MRI scanner.
* Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the MRI scan

Exclusion Criteria:

* No contraindication to MR imaging (e.g., implanted non-MRI compatible device)
* Known or suspected pregnancy. Female subjects of child bearing potential will undergo a urine pregnancy test prior to imaging.

• Jonathan Dillman, MD,MSc, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati