Michael Haimerl, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Niklas Verloh, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Claudia Fellner MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Roland Stroszczynski MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Philipp Wiggermann, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to assess diagnostic accuracy of T1 mapping of liver parenchyma compared to relative enhancement (RE) measurement of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced MRI in differentiating grade of liver cirrhosis.

235 patients (164 men, 71 women; mean age: 59.4 years) underwent MRI on a clinical whole body 3T system (Magnetom Skyra, Siemens Healthcare). Two TurboFLASH sequences (TI = 400ms; 1000ms) were acquired before and 20 minutes (hepatobilary phase) after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration to obtain T1 maps. T1 maps were used to determine changes in T1 relaxation time between plain and enhanced images. RE was calculated based on changes in SI between plain and enhanced T1-weighted volume interpolated breath hold examination (VIBE) during hepatobiliary phase. T1 relaxation time changes and RE were correlated to the Child Pugh score.

Reduction of T1 relaxation times as well as RE of liver parenchyma are both significant in differentiation of patients with different Child Pugh Scores (RE, p≤0.024; T1, p≤0.001). Reduction of T1 relaxation times and RE showed both a constant significant decrease from Child-Pugh class A up to class C. However, evaluation of T1 relaxation times showed lower variants (RE, σ2 ≤0.064; T1, σ2 ≤0.013) between patient groups than RE.

Patients with advanced liver disease showed significantly lower changes in T1 mapping and RE. The use of T1 mapping to determine the grade of liver cirrhosis is superior to classification based on RE.

T1 mapping and evaluation of RE by means of non-enhanced and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI may provide suitable and robust parameters for detecting and characterizing liver cirrhosis. Whereas RE uses relative values of signal intensity, T1 mapping is based on absolute values and is not dependent on variable factors of image processing.

Haimerl, M, Verloh, N, Fellner, C, Stroszczynski, C, Wiggermann, P, T1 Mapping of Liver Parenchyma Compared to Relative Enhancement Measurement to Determine the Grade of Liver Cirrhosis at 3T.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011265.html