MRI or MRE?

[Fluffysmom]

I am scheduled for an MRI of the liver. I've seen postings about MRE. Can anyone tell me what tests they have had and the difference between these two? Is one better than the other? I appreciate your responses.

Thank you, Cheryl

[iagra]

Interesting. I never even heard of MRE. I use shear wave elastography ultrasound for measuring stiffness (scarring or fibroses) of the liver. I just read that MRE is also used to measure the level of fibroses, but, it is more accurate than the shear wave ultrasound. I'll ask my gastro about it. Maybe MRE equipment is not widely available. Looks like, regular MRI is used to diagnose other liver problems, like tumors, fatty liver, hepatitis, etc, but, not fibroses.

[gwillistexas]

I have had fibroscan, mri and mre. MRI shows structure of te liver, possible abnormal growths and blood flow within the liver to name a few mre focuses on the liver itself. My fibroscan was totally inaccurate so I had the mri nd mre at the same time. MRI showed possible cirrhosis and mre wasn’t accurate either. I was sent for a biopsy as a last resort and to get an accurate stage of fibrosis and PBC. Biopsy results were stage 1. Good luck and let us know.

[OdinsMom]

MRE is basically a fibroscan. MRI is the big machine that they can use for any part of the body that uses magnets and radio frequencies to produce the image.