Magnetic Resonance Elastography by Direct Visualization of Propagating Acoustic Strain Waves
Abstract
A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method is presented for quantitatively mapping the physical response of a material to harmonic mechanical excitation. The resulting images allow calculation of regional mechanical properties. Measurements of shear modulus obtained with the MRI technique in gel materials correlate with independent measurements of static shear modulus. The results indicate that displacement patterns corresponding to cyclic displacements smaller than 200 nanometers can be measured. The findings suggest the feasibility of a medical imaging technique for delineating elasticity and other mechanical properties of tissue.
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Conventional MRE is noninvasive, but it generally relies on externally induced mechanical waves to estimate shear stiffness.
“Conventional MRE is noninvasive, but it generally relies on externally induced mechanical waves to estimate shear stiffness (Muthupillai et al., 1995).”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Muthupillai et al., 1995
Magnetic resonance elastography has established that the brain is a viscoelastic organ whose stiffness varies across regions, disease states, and age.
“Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) (Muthupillai et al., 1995) has established that the brain is a viscoelastic organ whose stiffness varies across regions, disease states, and age.”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Muthupillai et al., 1995
In elastography, it is possible to estimate tissue compliance from the motion of wave imaged using ultrasound or MRI.
“For example, in elastography, it is possible to estimate tissue compliance from the motion of wave imaged using ultrasound or MRI [146], whereas in the heart, myocardial stiffness is associated with disease processes.”
From AI in Medical Imaging Informatics: Current Challenges and Future Directions (2020) · cites this paper as [146]
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AI in Medical Imaging Informatics: Current Challenges and Future Directions
Panayides, A. S., Amini, A., Filipovic, N. D., Sharma, A., Tsaftaris, S. A., Young, A., Foran, D., Do, N., Golemati, S., Kurc, T., et al. (2020) · IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics · doi:10.1109/jbhi.2020.2991043 · Cited by 713 · see citing works
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“Conventional MRE is noninvasive, but it generally relies on externally induced mechanical waves to estimate shear stiffness ( Muthupillai et al., 1995).”
- Authors
- Muthupillai, R., Lomas, D. J., Rossman, P. J., Greenleaf, J. F., Manduca, A., & Ehman, R. L.
- Affiliations
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- Addenbrooke's Hospital (GB)
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1995-09-29
- Volume
- 269
- Issue
- 5232
- Pages
- 1854-1857
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2083039650
- Cited by
- 2,116
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 64 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 75 · 2018: 109 · 2017: 99 · 2016: 111 · 2015: 123 · 2014: 93 · 2013: 103 · 2012: 119
- FWCI
- 22.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ca051124-06)
- National Cancer Institute (CA51124)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Ultrasound Imaging and Elastography
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › NMR spectroscopy and applications
- Keywords
- magnetic resonance elastography, shear modulus, tissue stiffness, gel materials, displacement measurement, tissue mechanical properties, diagnostic imaging
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Elasticity, Gels, Kidney, Kidney Cortex, Kidney Medulla, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mathematics, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Sepharose, Stress, Mechanical, Mice
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