MR elastography in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: tumor stiffening during compression induced by respiration to assess microvascular invasion

Key Points

• Tumor stiffening was observed during compression induced by respiration, impacting assessment accuracy.
• Key evidence includes a notable correlation between stiffness and microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Assessment using MR elastography revealed significant biomechanical properties relevant for diagnosis in liver tumors.
• This may enable improved detection of microvascular invasion, highlighting the need for further comprehensive evaluations.