3D MRE-Based Evaluation of Meningioma Mechanical Properties and Histological Features

February 10, 2026 updated by: Yu Shi, Shengjing Hospital

Evaluation of Meningioma Mechanical Properties and Histological Features Using Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Elastography

This prospective single-center study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of three-dimensional magnetic resonance elastography (3D MRE) in assessing tumor stiffness and adhesion in patients with meningioma undergoing surgical resection. By correlating preoperative MRE-derived stiffness and adhesion maps with intraoperative findings and histopathological features, the study seeks to determine whether MRE can serve as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for surgical planning, risk stratification, and prediction of tumor behavior.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors and are often surgically resectable. However, the intraoperative texture and adhesion of the tumor to surrounding structures vary widely and directly impact the surgical approach, difficulty, and outcomes. Current preoperative imaging lacks the ability to quantitatively assess biomechanical properties such as stiffness and adhesion, which are critical for neurosurgical planning.

This prospective clinical trial investigates the application of 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in characterizing the biomechanical properties of meningiomas. Specifically, it aims to quantify tumor stiffness and adhesion using MRE-derived shear modulus maps and correlate these measurements with intraoperative surgeon-assessed stiffness/adhesion scores and postoperative histopathology. The study will also assess the diagnostic performance of MRE in predicting challenging resections, high tumor adhesion, and histological subtypes.

Approximately 300 patients with radiologically confirmed meningioma scheduled for elective resection will be enrolled. Participants will undergo standard MRI and additional 3D MRE scanning. Intraoperative findings including tumor stiffness, adhesion, blood supply, and resection difficulty will be systematically recorded. Postoperative pathological analysis will include tumor grade and histological subtype. Statistical analyses will evaluate correlations, diagnostic accuracy, and potential prognostic value.

Findings from this study may support the use of 3D MRE as a valuable noninvasive tool in preoperative assessment of meningiomas, helping optimize surgical strategies, reduce complications, and inform treatment decisions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110000
        • Recruiting
        • Shengjing Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wen Cheng
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Yu Shi
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anhua Wu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients undergoing meningeoma resection surgery are eligible for inclusion in the study cohort.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with metallic implants or foreign bodies in their bodies (pacemakers, artificial metallic heart valves, metal joints, metal implants, and those who can not remove dentures, insulin pumps, or contraceptive rings)
  • Pregnant women in the first trimester (within three months)
  • Patients with severe claustrophobia or anxiety
  • Patients with severe fever
  • Patients who can not tolerate MRE
  • Patients with vascular malformations and aneurysms.
  • Patients who do not sign an informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: MRE-Guided Surgery Group
Participants in this group will undergo preoperative three-dimensional magnetic resonance elastography (3D MRE) in addition to routine MRI. MRE will be used to quantify tumor stiffness and generate a three-dimensional adhesion map. These imaging findings will be provided to the neurosurgical team prior to surgery to assist in planning the surgical approach and anticipating tumor consistency and adhesiveness. Intraoperative outcomes such as resection time, blood loss, and dissection difficulty will be recorded and analyzed in relation to preoperative MRE parameters.
Diagnostic test: Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Participants will undergo preoperative 3D MRE to quantify tumor stiffness and generate adhesion maps. MRE is performed as an adjunct to standard brain MRI, using 60 Hz vibration frequency and specialized elastogram processing software. The resulting stiffness and adhesion data are made available to the neurosurgical team for surgical planning.
Other Names:
  • MRE
Procedure: Intraoperative Assessment and Recording
During surgical resection, the neurosurgical team will systematically assess and record tumor stiffness, adhesion to surrounding structures, vascularity, resection time, and technical difficulty using a standardized intraoperative scale. These intraoperative findings will be compared to preoperative MRE parameters to evaluate the diagnostic and predictive value of MRE.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Agreement Between MRE Stiffness and Intraoperative Tumor Consistency
Time Frame: Intraoperative (Day of Surgery)
The primary outcome is the correlation between preoperative 3D MRE-derived shear stiffness values and intraoperative tumor consistency as assessed by the neurosurgeon using a standardized ordinal scale (1-5). Agreement will be evaluated using Spearman correlation and Bland-Altman analysis.
Intraoperative (Day of Surgery)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Shengjing Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yu Shi, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Anhua Wu, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Wen Cheng, MD, Shengjing Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 19, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 9, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 9, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

May 2, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 10, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2022_meningioma

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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