Catherine D. G. Hines1, Mary J. Lindstrom2,
Scott B. Reeder1,3
1Biomedical Engineering, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; 2Biostatistics and Medical
Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; 3Radiology,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Blood
flow and fasting status are recognized sources of variability in MRE
measurements, and their impact on the repeatability of MRE is evaluated. MRE stiffness values and flow through the
superior mesenteric vein were measured in twelve healthy volunteers in fasted
and fed states, and the sequences were repeated five weeks later. No
significant differences between fasted/fed state stiffness values and no
correlation between values and measured flow are seen. Overall, volunteers scanned in a known
fasted or fed state provide very repeatable MRE stiffness values, where the
standard deviation of one MRE exam is 8.5% or 9.0% for fasted and fed states,
respectively.