The Role of Magnetic Resonance Elastography in the Diagnosis of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Portal hypertension (PH) is defined as abnormal elevation of portal venous pressure with cirrhosis accounting for 90% of cases and 10% of cases classified as noncirrhotic PH (NCPH).^1,2 The differentiation of cirrhotic PH (CPH) from NCPH is difficult (Supplementary Figure 1), with recent research efforts focusing on noninvasive evidence of increased hepatic stiffness.^3,4 Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an established imaging technique in the assessment of hepatic stiffness, and is now the most efficacious, noninvasive method to assess for hepatic fibrosis.^5-8 The aim of this study was to assess the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRE to differentiate between CPH and NCPH.