In detail, there were significant differences in the RE of the elastin-specific probe between the tumor center and margin (difference − 1.24; P < 0.001), the tumor margin and the peritumoral region (difference 1.20, P < 0.001) and the peritumoral region and the liver parenchyma (difference 1.16, P < 0.001) (Table 2). Here, ELN is linked to neoplasm.