Rationale and objectives: To evaluate the ability of segmental linear fitting analysis of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid liver perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess liver function and liver fibrosis.
Materials and methods: Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid liver perfusion MRI was performed in 41 patients, and perfusion estimates were generated by segmental linear fitting analysis of the time-intensity curves. The relationships of Tin, Tout, Kup, and the ratio between the signal intensities of the peak and the last phase with liver fibrosis stage and laboratory measurements of liver function were evaluated.
Results: Serum prealbumin concentration was significantly positively correlated with Kup and the signal intensity ratio and was significantly negatively correlated with Tin and Tout. Tin and Tout were significantly higher and Kup and the signal intensity ratio were significantly lower in patients with advanced fibrosis than those without. Tout was the best predictor of advanced fibrosis, with an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.843, a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of 80%.
Conclusions: A new procedure of quantifying the hepatocyte-specific uptake of a T1-enhancing contrast agent can be used to assess impaired hepatobiliary function. The parameters obtained from perfusion MRI have the potential to predict advanced fibrosis.
Keywords: Gd-EOB-DTPA; Liver function; MRI; liver fibrosis; perfusion-weighted imaging.
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