MRI elastography

What MRI elastography is

MRI elastography is a magnetic resonance scan that measures liver stiffness. You lie in an MRI scanner. A soft pad on the abdomen sends low-frequency vibrations during the scan. The scanner measures how those vibrations move through the liver.

The result is a stiffness number for the whole liver, not a single spot. A higher number is a sign of more scarring. The test does not take a tissue sample.

Why it is used

Clinicians use it when a more detailed picture of scarring is needed. The same scan can include an MRI measure of liver fat.

The number is read together with blood work and other imaging. MRI elastography does not replace every other test, and it does not set a treatment plan on its own.

What to expect

You lie in the scanner while the pad rests on the abdomen. For most people the scan is not painful, and it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Most people return to their usual day afterward.

Ask the office about metal implants and other MRI safety questions before the visit. Your family doctor arranges the scan.

OHIP coverage

This page does not state whether OHIP pays for MRI elastography at this clinic. Call the office before the visit and ask what, if anything, you would pay. This page does not list a price.