Balanced MR cholangiopancreatography with motion-sensitised driven-equilibrium (MSDE) preparation: feasibility of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced biliary examination

Staging of liver fibrosis using Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The severity of cirrhosis is closely related to its clinical treatment. Therefore, it is important to stage liver fibrosis accurately. Although liver biopsy can accurately stage the degree of cirrhosis, it has certain limitations in clinical application because of its invasive nature. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used in the diagnosis of liver diseases. In recent years, two new contrast agents, gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) and gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), have been successfully used for noninvasive liver imaging. They can be used for liver fibrosis staging and assessment of liver function. Cirrhotic patients with different liver function levels have a statistical difference in the liver parenchyma enhancement after giving contrast agents. This article briefly summarizes the progress of Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA enhanced MRI in staging liver fibrosis stage.

The Efficacy of MRI in the diagnostic workup of cystic fibrosis-associated liver disease: A clinical observational cohort study

PURPOSE

To identify independent imaging features and establish a diagnostic algorithm for diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated liver disease (CFLD) in CF patients compared to controls using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

METHODS

A total of 90 adult patients were enrolled: 50 with CF, 40 controls. The CF group was composed of two subgroups: a retrospective test subgroup (n = 33) and a prospective validation subgroup (n = 17). Controls (patients with normal liver enzymes and only benign focal liver lesions) were divided accordingly (27:13). MRI variables, including quantitative and qualitative parameters, were used to distinguish CFLD from controls using clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and Debray criteria. Disease severity was classified according to Child-Pugh and Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) scores. Fifteen qualitative single-lesion CF descriptors were defined. Two readers independently evaluated the images. Univariate statistical analysis was performed to obtain significant imaging features that differentiate CF patients from controls. Through multivariate analysis using chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) methodology the most important descriptors were identified. Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Three independent imaging descriptors distinguished CFLD from controls: (1) presence of altered gallbladder morphology; (2) periportal tracking; and (3) periportal fat deposition. Prospective validation of the classification algorithm demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 84.6% for discriminating CFLD from controls. Disease severity was well associated with the imaging features.

CONCLUSIONS

A short unenhanced MRI protocol can identify the three cardinal imaging features of CFLD. The hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI can define CFLD progression.

KEY POINTS

• Using a multivariate classification analysis, we identified three independent imaging features, altered gallbladder morphology (GBAM), periportal tracking (PPT) and periportal fat deposition (PPFD), that could diagnose CFLD with high sensitivity, 94.1 % (95% CI: 71.3-99.9) and moderate specificity, 84.6 % (95% CI: 54.6-98.1). • Based upon the results of this study, gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI with DWI is able to diagnose early-stage CFLD, as well as its progression.