Magnetic resonance elastography of the human brain: a preliminary study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To study the application of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in the human brain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An external force actuator was developed, which produced propagating shear waves in brain tissue. A modified phase-contrast gradient-echo sequence was developed. The propagating shear waves within the brain were directly imaged. The wave images were processed to obtain the elasticity image. Shear waves at 100 Hz, 150 Hz, and 200 Hz were applied. RESULTS: The propagating shear waves in the brain were visualized on wave images. The elasticity image revealed the difference in tissue elasticity between gray and white matter of the brain. CONCLUSION: MRE could be an imaging technique for assessing the elasticity of brain tissue.