Repeatability of multifrequency MR elastography in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients and healthy volunteers

MR elastography (MRE) could be useful as an imaging biomarker in pancreatic cancer. To this end, pancreatic MRE parameters should be repeatable and be able to differentiate between healthy and tumour tissue. In this study, 10 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 8 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers underwent three MRE scans in a test-retest set-up. Results showed that MRE parameters were repeatable in patients and healthy volunteers. Furthermore, a significant increase in shear wave speed was found in pancreatic tumours compared to healthy pancreatic tissue.