title: In vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance elastography of the uterine corpus and cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To apply 3D multifrequency MR elastography (3DMMRE) to the uterus and analyse the viscoelasticity of the uterine tissue in healthy volunteers considering individual variations and variations over the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy volunteers participated in the study, one of whom was examined 12 times over two menstrual cycles. Pelvic 3DMMRE was performed on a 1.5-T scanner with seven vibration frequencies (30-60 Hz) using a piezoelectric driver. Two mechanical parameter maps were obtained corresponding to the magnitude (|G (*) |) and the phase angle (φ) of the complex shear modulus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, the uterine corpus had higher elasticity, but similar viscosity compared with the cervix, reflected by |G (*) |uterine corpus = 2.58 ± 0.52 kPa vs. |G (*) |cervix = 2.00 ± 0.34 kPa (p < 0.0001) and φ uterine corpus = 0.54 ± 0.08, φ cervix = 0.57 ± 0.12 (p = 0.428). With 2.23 ± 0.26 kPa, |G (*) | of the myometrium was lower in the secretory phase (SP) compared with that of the proliferative phase (PP, |G (*) | = 3.01 ± 0.26 kPa). For the endometrium, the value of |G (*) | in SP was 68% lower than during PP (PP, |G (*) | = 3.34 ± 0.42 kPa; SP, |G (*) | = 1.97 ± 0.34 kPa; p = 0.0061).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3DMMRE produces high-resolution mechanical parameter maps of the uterus and cervix and shows sensitivity to structural and functional changes of the endometrium and myometrium during the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR elastography provided for the first time spatially resolved viscoelasticity maps of uterus. Uterine corpus had a higher elasticity, but similar viscosity compared with cervix. The stiffness of both endometrium and myometrium decreases during the menstrual cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Xuyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asbach
authors.forename: Kaspar-Josche
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Streitberger
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014783:Viscosity