Fibrous Liver Stiffness Analysis Using High Frequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography at 7T on an ex vivo Rat Model. Feasibility and Preliminary Results

Maxime Ronot¹, ², Mathilde Wagner¹, Simon Lambert², Sabrina Doblas², Ralph Sinkus², Valerie Vilgrain¹, ², Bernard E. Van-Beers¹, ²

The diagnosis, staging and quantification of fibrosis rely on liver biopsy, which is invasive with significant risks. MR Elastography (MRE) is an emerging technique that allows fibrosis assessment by measuring the viscoelastic properties of the liver Our study presents the preliminary results of a high-frequency MRE-assessed fibrous liver analysis in an ex vivo rat model. Fibrosis was induced using CCl4 intoxication. We showed that the mean value of the elasticity shear modulus (Gd) in normal livers was significantly lower than in fibrous ones after 3 weeks of intoxication (p=.01) and correlated to the histological findings. It is expected that Gd will significantly increase in the next 5 weeks.