Abstract #4074

Parameter Optimization for Liver MR Elastography at 3 T

Johannes Strasser¹, Jrg Roland², Gert Reiter³, Rudolf Stollberger¹

¹Institute of Medical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; ²Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany; ³Siemens Healthcare, Graz, Austria

Since liver MRE at 3 T brings along certain challenges due to the high field strength, the aim of this study was to investigate and optimize several acquisition parameters to improve applicability of liver MRE at 3 T. The herewith achieved optimization allowed an increase in image quality and an enhancement of confidence areas in the elastogram accompanied by recognizable shear wave illustration within the liver, and enabled an assessment of liver stiffness values of healthy volunteers within short breath-hold times. Further research is ongoing to establish and simplify liver MRE at 3 T in routine medical liver exams.