Abstract Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using 3D magnetic resonance elastography(3D MRE) to assess the pancreatic stiffness in healthy volunteers. Methods: Twenty-one volunteers without pancreatic-related diseases underwent GE 3.0T MR exams using a multi-slice EPI pulse sequence with low-frequency vibrations(40 and 60 Hz). The mean stiffness in three pancreatic subregions(head, body and tail) and the corresponding liver stiffness were calculated. Results: The mean stiffness(average of values obtained in different pancreatic subregions) was (1.11±0.16) kPa at 40 Hz, and (2.08±0.31) kPa at 60 Hz. The corresponding liver stiffness was (1.62±0.26) kPa at 40 Hz(mean pancreas-to-liver stiffness ratio: 0.69), and (2.27±0.34) kPa at 60 Hz(mean ratio: 0.92). The mean stiffness in three pancreatic subregions have no significant differences(P>0.05). The mean CV for each pancreatic subregion was lower at 40 Hz than 60 Hz(P<0.05 for all subregions, range: 13.91%~20.91% at 40 Hz and 18.84%~21.84% at 60 Hz). Conclusion: 3D MRE can provide pancreas stiffness measurements in healthy people, with lower variation at 40 Hz. There was no difference of stiffness among different pancreatic subregions.
2015, Vol. 26 
