Comparison of liver scintigraphy and the liver-spleen contrast in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI on liver function tests

Abstract

The liver-spleen contrast (LSC) using hepatobiliary-phase images could replace the receptor index (LHL15) in liver scintigraphy; however, few comparative studies exist. This study aimed to verify the convertibility from LSC into LHL15. In 136 patients, the LSC, not at 20 min, but at 60 min after injecting gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid was compared with the LHL15, albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score, and the related laboratory parameters. The LHL15 was also compared with their biochemical tests. The correlation coefficients of LSC with LHL15, ALBI score, total bilirubin, and albumin were 0.740, –0.624, –0.606, and 0.523 (P < 0.00001), respectively. The correlation coefficients of LHL15 with ALBI score, total bilirubin, and albumin were –0.647, –0.553, and 0.569 (P < 0.00001), respectively. The linear regression equation on the estimated LHL15 (eLHL15) from LSC was eLHL15 = 0.460 · LSC + 0.727 (P < 0.00001) and the coefficient of determination was 0.548. Regarding a contingency table using imaging-based clinical stage classification, the degree of agreement between eLHL15 and LHL15 was 65.4%, and Cramer's V was 0.568 (P < 0.00001). Therefore, although the LSC may be influenced by high total bilirubin, the eLHL15 can replace the LSC as an index to evaluate liver function.

Quantitative evaluation of functional liver reserve using the liver-to-spleen ΔR1 ratio based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: corrected for the effect of gadoxetic acid dose

“…In the report by Suyama et al that measured the liver-spleen contrast (LSC) at 20 min after administration based on MRI findings, the correlation between LSC and HH15 (represents the blood clearance of 99 m Tc-GSA) was stronger than the correlation between LSC and LHL15 (represents the hepatic accumulation of 99 m Tc-GSA) (20). Mori et al stated that these results are attributed to the presence of residual gadoxetic acid in the extracellular space of the liver at 20 min after administration (21).…”

Liver-spleen contrast standardization of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging based on cross-calibration

“…ROIs may be set at an arbitrary placement and adequate size ( 2 , 7 ). Moreover, LSC can be used to separate normal cases from the Grade 1 group of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) Grades ( 13 ). Therefore, LSC is the simplest and most common technique among these four methods ( 2 ).…”

“…Moreover, Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI can evaluate the future remnant liver functional reserve after hepatectomy by adding the liver volume to the LSC because the volume data can be obtained ( 15 ). Moderate correlations have also observed between the LSC and other liver function indexes, such as ALBI score, Child-Push class, and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min ( 6 , 13 , 15 ). The LSC levels are also associated with severity of chronic liver diseases ( 13 ).…”

“…Moderate correlations have also observed between the LSC and other liver function indexes, such as ALBI score, Child-Push class, and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min ( 6 , 13 , 15 ). The LSC levels are also associated with severity of chronic liver diseases ( 13 ).…”