Diagnostic Value of IVIM-Based Virtual MR Elastography Compared with Real MR Elastography in Breast Lesions

Motivation: Real magnetic resonance elastography (rMRE) assesses breast tissue stiffness but has limited accessibility due to hardware demands and patient tolerance issues. IVIM-based virtual MR elastography (vMRE) could offer a feasible alternative. Goal(s): This study evaluates whether vMRE can differentiate normal, benign, and malignant breast lesions, potentially replacing rMRE in clinical use. Approach: In 21 patients with breast lesions and 5 healthy controls, diagnostic performance was assessed with rMRE and vMRE, optimizing b-value combinations for virtual shear-wave speed (Cv-MRE). Results: The optimal b-value pair (200 and 1500 sec/mm2 )enabled Cv-MRE to distinguish malignant from benign lesions, achieving high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.929) . Impact: IVIM-based vMRE shows potential as a non-invasive alternative to rMRE for breast lesion diagnosis, offering broader applicability in patient care by enhancing diagnostic accessibility, especially for cases unsuited to traditional rMRE.