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Research progress of magnetic resonance elastography in pancreatic diseases
SHEN Zhaowu  JIANG Jie 

Cite this article as: SHEN Z W, JIANG J. Research progress of magnetic resonance elastography in pancreatic diseases[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(6): 201-206, 234. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.031.


[Abstract] In recent years, the global incidence of pancreatic diseases has shown a yearly increasing trend. Influenced by factors such as inflammation, tumors, or lifestyle habits, the mechanical properties of pancreatic tissue may undergo alterations. Quantitative assessment of pancreatic tissue mechanics offers novel perspectives for the early and precise diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic pathologies. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), an emerging non-invasive imaging technique combining low-frequency mechanical vibrations with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enables non-invasive quantitative evaluation of mechanical characteristics in both normal and pathological tissues. This technology overcomes the limitations of conventional imaging modalities, which rely solely on morphological changes and cannot assess tissue mechanical properties. Existing review articles have demonstrated MRE's capability in differentiating healthy pancreatic tissue from pathological lesions and distinguishing benign versus malignant tumors. However, they have not yet systematically addressed its applications in pancreatic inflammatory conditions, histopathological tumor subtyping, therapeutic efficacy evaluation, complication prediction, or organ transplantation. Through a comprehensive review of clinical applications and research advancements of MRE in pancreatic diseases, the authors identified its unique advantages in evaluating pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatitis, diagnosing early-stage neoplasms, predicting treatment outcomes and complications, as well as assessing graft viability in transplantation settings. However, due to factors including the deep anatomical location of the pancreas, complexity of pancreatic pathologies, limited spatial resolution of MRE imaging, and technical challenges in image post processing, there remains a lack of standardized protocols for pancreatic MRE applications. Future advancements may involve technical optimization strategies, high-field-strength MRI equipment, multimodal imaging approaches, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted methodologies to address these limitations. This review aims to enhance clinicians' understanding of MRE's diagnostic potential while providing novel perspectives and research directions for future investigations in pancreatic pathology.
[Keywords] pancreatic；pancreatitis；pancreatic carcinoma；magnetic resonance imaging；magnetic resonance elastography

SHEN Zhaowu   JIANG Jie*  

Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China

Corresponding author: JIANG J, E-mail: 15812119545@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-03-10
Accepted  2025-05-20
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.031
Cite this article as: SHEN Z W, JIANG J. Research progress of magnetic resonance elastography in pancreatic diseases[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(6): 201-206, 234. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.031.

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