Diffusion and intravoxel incoherent motion MR imaging-based virtual elastography: A hypothesis-generating study in the liver
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the potential of diffusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to provide quantitative estimates of tissue stiffness without using mechanical vibrations in patients with chronic liver diseases and to generate a new elasticity-driven intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) contrast. Materials and Methods This retrospective study, conducted from January to April 2016, was approved by an institutional review board that waived the requirement for informed consent. Fifteen subjects were included (13 men and two women; mean age ± standard deviation, 73 years ± 8). MR elastography and diffusion MR imaging were performed at 3 T. A search for an empirical relationship between MR elastographic shear modulus, µ MRE , and a shifted apparent diffusion coefficient (sADC) was performed. The sADC was then inverted to estimate patient liver shear modulus directly from diffusion MR imaging signals. Results A significant correlation (r 2 = 0.90, P = 1 · 10 -7 ) was observed between µ MRE and sADC calculated by using diffusion MR imaging signals acquired with b values of 200 (S 200 ) and 1500 (S 1500 ) sec/mm 2 (sACD 200-1500 ). On the basis of the relationship between the µ MRE and sADC 200-1500 , a diffusion-based shear modulus, µ diff , could be estimated with the following equation: µ diff = (-9.8 ± 0.8) ln(S 200 /S 1500 ) + (14.0 ± 0.9). IVIM virtual elastograms also could be generated to reveal new contrast features in lesions, depending on pseudovibration frequency and ampl…
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Diffusion-based virtual MRE offers a potential alternative by inferring tissue stiffness from diffusion MRI without requiring physical shear-wave propagation.
“Diffusion-based virtual MRE (vMRE) offers a potential alternative by inferring tissue stiffness from diffusion MRI without requiring physical shear-wave propagation (Le Bihan et al., 2017).”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Le Bihan et al., 2017
This conceptual evolution redefines elastography as a computational transformation of diffusion data, extending elasticity imaging into a domain of virtual mechanics set by user-defined parameters that could reveal pathological heterogeneity not visible with conventional imaging.
“This conceptual evolution redefines elastography as a computational transformation of diffusion data, extending elasticity imaging into a domain of virtual mechanics set by user-defined parameters that could reveal pathological heterogeneity not visible with conventional imaging (Le Bihan et al., 2017).”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Le Bihan et al., 2017
This approach was first evaluated and validated for liver-fibrosis staging.
“This approach was first evaluated and validated for liver-fibrosis staging (Kromrey et al., 2020; Le Bihan et al., 2017).”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Le Bihan et al., 2017
Using optimized diffusion metrics such as shifted apparent diffusion coefficient (sADC), which is more sensitive to tissue microstructure than conventional ADC and has been shown to be linearly and negatively correlated with shear stiffness, diffusion-based vMRE can generate quantitative stiffness estimates in kPa.
“Using optimized diffusion metrics such as shifted apparent diffusion coefficient (sADC), which is more sensitive to tissue microstructure than conventional ADC (see above) and that has been shown to be linearly and negatively correlated with shear stiffness, diffusion-based vMRE can generate quantitative stiffness estimates in kPa (Fig. 8) (Le Bihan et al., 2017).”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Le Bihan et al., 2017
IVIM-based vMRE further expands this concept by generating virtually synthesized rather than physically induced shear-wave phenomena within tissues using the principles of IntraVoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) established earlier for blood microcirculation to model the intravoxel phase-shift distribution that would be induced by virtual tissue motion.
“IVIM-based vMRE further expands this concept by generating virtually synthesized rather than physically induced shear-wave phenomena within tissues using the principles of IntraVoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) established earlier for blood microcirculation (Le Bihan, 2019; Le Bihan et al., 2017) to model the intravoxel phase-shift distribution that would be induced by virtual tissue motion.”
From 40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers (2026) · cites this paper as Le Bihan et al., 2017
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Le Bihan, D. (2026) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2026.1858655 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
40 Years of diffusion MRI in the brain: From history to emerging frontiers
Le Bihan, D. (2026) · Imaging Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/imag.a.1365
“8) ( Le Bihan et al., 2017).”
Influential
- Authors
- Le Bihan, D., Ichikawa, S., & Motosugi, U.
- Affiliations
- From Neurospin, Bât 145, CEA-Saclay Center, Gif-sur-Yvette 91191, France (D.L.B.); Department of Radiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (D.L.B.); and Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan (S.I., U.M.).
- Kyoto University (JP)
- Venue
- Radiology
- Published
- 2017-11
- Volume
- 285
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 609-619
- ISSN
- 0033-8419 (ISSN-L)
- 1527-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2625423816
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Radiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Louis-Jeantet Foundation
- 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
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › MRI in cancer diagnosis
- Keywords
- diffusion-weighted imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion, liver stiffness, liver fibrosis, shear modulus estimation, apparent diffusion coefficient, chronic liver disease
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Liver, Male, Retrospective Studies, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Elasticity Imaging Techniques, Multimodal Imaging
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