Research proves that screening for breast cancer with mammograms saves lives. But mammograms are not perfect. They can miss tumors, especially in women with dense breast tissue. That’s why Doctors at Mayo Clinic also use MRI’s to screen for breast cancer in high risk women. The technology can detect some tumors that mammograms cannot.
A new study shows that an imaging technology developed by Mayo Clinic researchers can identify liver fibrosis with high accuracy and help eliminate the need for liver biopsies. Liver fibrosis is a common condition that can lead to incurable cirrhosis if not treated in time.
The technology, called magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), produces color-coded images known as elastograms that indicate how internal organs, muscles and tissues would feel to the touch. Red is the stiffest; purple, the softest. Other imaging techniques do not provide this information.
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