Brain magnetic resonance elastography on healthy volunteers: a safety study.
BACKGROUND
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a recently developed imaging technique that can directly visualize and quantitatively measure tissue elasticity.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of brain MRE on human subjects.


METHODS
The study included 20 healthy volunteers. MRE sequence scan (drive signal not applied to external force actuator) and MRE study were separately performed on each volunteer at an interval of more than 24 hours. The heart rate and blood pressure of each volunteer were measured immediately before and after MRE sequence scan and MRE study. Electroencephalography (EEG) was also performed within 2 hours after each scan. The volunteers were asked about their experience of the two scans. Randomized-block analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data of blood pressure and heart rate. Paired t test was used to analyze the data of the two EEG examinations. The volunteers were followed up 1 week after the examination.


RESULTS
All procedures were performed on each volunteer, and no one complained of obvious discomfort. No related adverse events were reported during follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in heart rate or blood pressure. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in EEG results in the right temporoparietal region. Increased power was found in the theta, delta, alpha, and beta2 bands. No brain injury was detected by the EEG examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the study results, brain MRE examinations are safe to perform on human subjects.
Liu
Guang-Rui
GR
Imaging Center of Neuroradiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Affiliated Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Gao
Pei-Yi
PY
Lin
Yan
Y
Xue
Jing
J
Wang
Xiao-Chun
XC
Sui
Bin-Bin
BB
Ma
Li
L
Xi
Zhi-Nong
ZN
Bai
Qin
Q
Shen
Hao
H
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values