Published in:
01-04-2016 | Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
Volume-assisted estimation of liver function based on Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry
Authors:
Michael Haimerl, Mona Schlabeck, Niklas Verloh, Florian Zeman, Claudia Fellner, Dominik Nickel, Ana Paula Barreiros, Martin Loss, Christian Stroszczynski, Philipp Wiggermann
Published in:
European Radiology
|
Issue 4/2016
Login to get access
Abstract
Objectives
To determine whether liver function as determined by indocyanine green (ICG) clearance can be estimated quantitatively from hepatic magnetic resonance (MR) relaxometry with gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA).
Methods
One hundred and seven patients underwent an ICG clearance test and Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MRI, including MR relaxometry at 3 Tesla. A transverse 3D VIBE sequence with an inline T1 calculation was acquired prior to and 20 minutes post-Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. The reduction rate of T1 relaxation time (rrT1) between pre- and post-contrast images and the liver volume-assisted index of T1 reduction rate (LVrrT1) were evaluated. The plasma disappearance rate of ICG (ICG-PDR) was correlated with the liver volume (LV), rrT1 and LVrrT1, providing an MRI-based estimated ICG-PDR value (ICG-PDRest).
Results
Simple linear regression model showed a significant correlation of ICG-PDR with LV (r = 0.32; p = 0.001), T1post (r = 0.65; p < 0.001) and rrT1 (r = 0.86; p < 0.001). Assessment of LV and consecutive evaluation of multiple linear regression model revealed a stronger correlation of ICG-PDR with LVrrT1 (r = 0.92; p < 0.001), allowing for the calculation of ICG-PDRest.
Conclusions
Liver function as determined using ICG-PDR can be estimated quantitatively from Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry. Volume-assisted MR relaxometry has a stronger correlation with liver function than does MR relaxometry.
Key Points
• Measurement of T1 relaxation times in Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR imaging quantifies liver function.
• Volume-assisted Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry has stronger correlation with ICG-PDR than does Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry.
• Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry may provide robust parameters for detecting and characterizing liver disease.
• Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry may be useful for monitoring liver disease progression.
• Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced MR relaxometry has the potential to become a novel liver function index.