MRE-IA in Liver Disease and Neurovascular Imaging

The objective of this research project is to develop Magnetic Resonance Elastography by Intrinsic Activation (MRE-IA) imaging methods at two imaging centers (CRCHUS and CRCHUM) for use in ongoing studies in liver disease and neurovascular imaging. MRE is a developing MR imaging modality that provides detailed maps of tissue's mechanical properties, based on displacement measurements made during the propagation of low amplitude vibrations through the region of interest. MRE-IA uses the pressure pulses of the cardiac cycle to induce the vibrations needed for MRE image reconstruction. MRE-IA has already been demonstrated based on the use of existing, clinically approved MR imaging sequences, and once this capability has been established at the two centers, initial trials will be done to demonstrate the method's potential in liver and neurovascular imaging. In the case of the liver, this pilot project funding will be used to perform MRE-IA imaging in patients with chronic liver disease and focal liver lesions. Results will be analyzed to establish the relationship between the mechanical properties mentioned above and disease stage. In the neurovascular case, imaging will be conducted under basic visual and motor stimulus conditions in healthy subjects, and results compared non-stimulus control images to determine changes in the above properties based on brain function. In addition, MRE-IA images will be compared with BOLD imaging to investigate the role of fluid conductivity in fMRI results.