title: Technical Failure of MR Elastography Examinations of the Liver: Experience from a Large Single-Center Study.
abstract: Purpose To assess the determinants of technical failure of magnetic resonance (MR) elastography of the liver in a large single-center study. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Seven hundred eighty-one MR elastography examinations performed in 691 consecutive patients (mean age, 58 years; male patients, 434 [62.8%]) in a single center between June 2013 and August 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. MR elastography was performed at 3.0 T (n = 443) or 1.5 T (n = 338) by using a gradient-recalled-echo pulse sequence. MR elastography and anatomic image analysis were performed by two observers. Additional observers measured liver T2* and fat fraction. Technical failure was defined as no pixel value with a confidence index higher than 95% and/or no apparent shear waves imaged. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess potential predictive factors of technical failure of MR elastography. Results The technical failure rate of MR elastography at 1.5 T was 3.5% (12 of 338), while it was higher, 15.3% (68 of 443), at 3.0 T. On the basis of univariate analysis, body mass index, liver iron deposition, massive ascites, use of 3.0 T, presence of cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver disease were all significantly associated with failure of MR elastography (P < .004); but on the basis of multivariable analysis, only body mass index, liver iron deposition, massive ascites, and use of 3.0 T were significantly associated with failure of MR elastography (P < .004). Conclusion The technical failure rate of MR elastography with a gradient-recalled-echo pulse sequence was low at 1.5 T but substantially higher at 3.0 T. Massive ascites, iron deposition, and high body mass index were additional independent factors associated with failure of MR elastography of the liver with a two-dimensional gradient-recalled-echo pulse sequence.©RSNA, 2017.
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corcuera-Solano
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esses
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Besa
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Ginu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Babb
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ehman
authors.affiliation: From the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute (M.W., I.C.S., C.B., N.C., B.T.) and Department of Radiology (I.C.S., G.L., S.E., J.L., C.B., G.A., B.T.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029; MR Applications and Workflow, GE Healthcare, New York, NY (M.F.); Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY (J.S.B.); and Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (R.L.E.).
authors.forename: Bachir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taouli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies