Application and research progress of magnetic resonance elastography in cancer

Tumor stiffness is closely related with tumor growth, invasion, distant metastasis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance, and the choice of operation. Therefore, accurate evaluation of tumor stiffness is of great significance for the diagnosis of tumor, the choice of operation, and prognosis evaluation of tumor. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a dynamic imaging method for quantitative analysis of tissue elastic shear force by mechanical wave. It is a method to quantify the mechanical properties (stiffness) of cancer in vivo. It is objective, high-resolution, and can be used in many organs. Therefore, it has potential research value and applied foreground. This article reviews the principle of MRE and the application in cancer of breast, prostate, brain, liver, and pancreas.