MRE data are accumulated in terms of phase contrast wave images showing patterns of mechanical waves. These wave images need to be reconstructed for obtaining elasticity maps displaying the particular elasticity contrast. Several approaches have been reported to reconstruct MRE wave images, e.g.

• estimation of local spatial frequencies (LFE) of the shear wave propagation. These estimates are derived from a single image using lognormal gaussian filters with different bandwidths and center frequencies.
• forward-reconstruction techniques based on a model of coupled harmonic oscillators (CHO). Here wave images are calculated based on a 2D wave-equation and matched to the experiment. Reflection, damping, refraction, and anisotropy are taken into account by the CHO-method.
• direct inversion of the motion equation under the assumptions of local homogeneity and incompressibility.