Yasuaki Kuginuki MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hisao Tonami MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mikihiro Tsutsumi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tomiyasu Arisawa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the capability of the diffusion-weighted MR imaging with navigator-triggered prospective acquisition correction (PACE) at 3T for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis.

Single-shot echo-planar diffusion-weighted MR imaging at 3T was performed with b values of 0, 400, and 800 sec/mm2. Free-breathing navigator-triggered PACE was employed. The relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and hepatic fibrosis was investigated in 82 patients with biopsy-proven hepatic fibrosis and 16 with healthy liver. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine whether fibrosis stages (F score) of F2 or greater and F3 or greater could be predicted using ADC. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the extent to which fibrosis stages could be predicted and explained using ADC and serum fibrosis markers (platelet count, hyaluronic acid, and collagen type IV).

The ADCs were 1.36±0.06，1.24±0.05, 1.16±0.10, 1.15±0.11, 1.09±0.11x10-3mm2/sec in fibrotic stages F0, F1, F2, F3, and F4, respectively. There were significant differences between ADCs of F0 and F1 (p<0.001), F1 and F2 (p<0.01), and F3 and F4 (p<0.001). No difference was seen in ADCs of F2 compared with F3. There was significant negative correlation between ADCs and fibrosis stages (r=-0.823, p<0.001). ROC curve indicated that the discrimination ability in terms of area under curve (AUC) was 0.960 for stages of F2 or greater and 0.907 for stages of F3 or greater. Sensitivities and specificities for F2 or greater were 73 % and 100 % with a cut-off value of 1.29x10-3mm2/sec, and 85 % and 87 % for F3 or greater with a cut-off value of 1.20x10-3mm2/sec, respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that ADC and platelet count were significant explanatory variables, and the following multiple regression prediction equation was obtained: F score=8.812-3.370x[ADCx10-3]-0.015x[platelet count x10-3].        

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging with navigator-triggered PACE at 3T is useful for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis.

ADC measurement with navigator-triggered PACE at 3T is a promising biomarker for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis.

Kuginuki, Y, Tonami, H, Tsutsumi, M, Arisawa, T, Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging with Navigator-triggered Prospective Acquisition Correction at 3 T for the Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11003361.html