We have investigated the potential of diffusion MRI to provide quantitative estimates of tissue stiffness and compared results with those obtained by standard MR elastography (MRE). We revealed that water diffusion, calculated from 2 key b values, can be directly and quantitatively converted into shear stiffness without using mechanical vibrations. Propagating shear waves can also be simulated leading to a new elasticity-driven IVIM attenuation contrast. Such virtual elastograms give a variety of contrasts by simulating various ranges of vibration frequencies and amplitudes or MRI gradient strengths not limited by MRE hardware capacities.
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