Is shear viscosity a sign for malignancy in liver tumours?

Introduction Liver tumours are very frequent. They include benign lesions and malignant primary or secondary tumours (metastases). About 1 million people die each year from liver cancer or liver failure caused by viral hepatitis. The liver is also a frequent site of metastases. Currently, there is no established non-invasive imaging Goldstandard available in order to characterize malignancy for liver tumours. Very often, the enhancement characteristics of a bolus (Gadolinium) are used in order to differentiate benign from malignant tumours. Here, we intend to prospectively evaluate the complex shear modulus iGl Gd G + = * as measured via MR-elastography (MRE) in the assessment of malignancy or benignity of liver lesions and compare its performance to those of three enhancement characteristics of the bolus passage.