Observational Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2014; 20(46): 17558-17567
Published online Dec 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i46.17558
Three-Tesla magnetic resonance elastography for hepatic fibrosis: Comparison with diffusion-weighted imaging and gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
Hee Sun Park, Young Jun Kim, Mi Hye Yu, Won Hyeok Choe, Sung Il Jung, Hae Jeong Jeon
Hee Sun Park, Young Jun Kim, Mi Hye Yu, Sung Il Jung, Hae Jeong Jeon, Department of Radiology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea
Won Hyeok Choe, Digestive Disease Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea
Author contributions: Park HS designed the study and wrote the manuscript; Kim YJ revised and edited the manuscript; Yu MH provided advice on statistical analysis and edited the manuscript; Choe WH provided collection of patients and advice on the clinical aspect for this work; Jung SI and Jeon HJ revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Young Jun Kim, MD, Professor, Department of Radiology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, South Korea. yjkim@kuh.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-20305494 Fax: +82-2-20305549
Received: March 18, 2014
Revised: June 9, 2014
Accepted: July 11, 2014
Published online: December 14, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for hepatic fibrosis and to compare that with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

METHODS: Forty-two patients were included in the study. On MRE, mean stiffness values were measured on the elastograms in kilopascals. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the liver was measured using DWI. On gadoxetic acid enhanced MR, the contrast enhancement index (CEI) was calculated as signal intensity (SI)post/SIpre, where SIpost is liver-to-muscle SI ratio on hepatobiliary phase images and SIpre is that on nonenhanced images. Correlation between aspartate aminotransferase to the platelet ratio index (APRI) and three MR parameters was assessed. Each MR parameter was compared between a hepatic fibrosis (HF) group and non-hepatic fibrosis (nHF) group.

RESULTS: Liver stiffness showed strong positive correlation with APRI [Spearman correlation coeffiecient (r) = 0.773, P < 0.0001], while ADC and CEI showed weak or prominent negative correlation (r = -0.28 and -0.321, respectively). In the HF group, only liver stiffness showed strong correlation with APRI (r = 0.731, P < 0.0001). Liver stiffness, ADC, and APRI were significantly different between the HF group and nHF group.

CONCLUSION: MRE at 3-Tesla could be a feasible method for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance elastography, Hepatic fibrosis, Diffusion weighted imaging, Gadoxetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, Serum markers

Core tip: Magnetic resonance elastography at 3-Tesla could be a feasible method for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis and may have a role as a potential noninvasive modality which would replace liver biopsy.