Diffusion‐weighted MR imaging of the liver of hepatitis C patients

Abstract

Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver was investigated to determine whether this method could be used to differentiate between the stages of fibrosis and inflammation for hepatitis C viral infection. DWI data were recorded for 18 hepatitis C patients and 10 control subjects using a modified pulse sequence allowing a 52 ms echo time delay. Acquisitions were performed with breath holding using five different b gradient factor values ranging between 50 and 250 s/mm(2) and in the three axes. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured from a 5.7 cm(2) area in the central region of the liver. The inflammation and fibrosis grades were evaluated histologically on a biopsy sample. The mean ADC values were 2.30 +/- 1.28 x 10(-3) and 1.79 +/- 0.25 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s for hepatitis C patients and control subjects, respectively. Using our technique, no correlation could be found between the ADC values and the inflammation or fibrosis scores, indicating that tissue changes produced by hepatitis C do not appear to be quantifiable by DWI.

Can preoperative diffusion-weighted MRI predict postoperative hepatic insufficiency after curative resection of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma? A pilot study

“…Furthermore, The R2-ADC values for each fibrosis stage did not show a tendency to increase or decrease. This result was different from those of Lewin et al and Koinuma et al [14,15] showing that ADC values for fibrotic liver decreased as the severity of liver fibrosis increased; on the contrary, our results were similar to those of other investigations indicating that ADC values do not decrease as the fibrosis scores increase [16,32,33].…”

“…Furthermore, recent improvements in MRI technology have made it feasible to apply diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) to abdominal imaging. Although several recent studies have reported that DW-MRI can assess liver fibrosis using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values [14,15], conflicting results have been also reported and data on intra-and interobserver reliability of DW-MRI has not yet been evaluated [16].…”

Magnetic resonance imaging of hepatic fibrosis: Emerging clinical applications

“…Recent studies among patients with varying degrees of chronic liver disease from hepatitis C, however, are mixed with respect to demonstrating a specific relationship between ADC values and fibrosis stage. 40,41 Sampling error from liver biopsy may be responsible, in part, for this result. 41 Using a single-shot spin-echo planar sequence to improve reproducibility of measurement, the mean ADC in patients with cirrhosis was lower compared with healthy individuals.…”

“…40,41 Sampling error from liver biopsy may be responsible, in part, for this result. 41 Using a single-shot spin-echo planar sequence to improve reproducibility of measurement, the mean ADC in patients with cirrhosis was lower compared with healthy individuals. In this experience, a 93% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting cirrhosis was associated with a cutoff ADC value of 1.31 ϫ 10 -3 mm 2 /s.…”

“…Technical factors such as accounting for cardiac motion despite breath-holding as well as employing surface rather than body coils to reduce signal-to-noise ratio are being addressed to allow further study. 37,40,41 High-field (3T) imaging also may enhance signal-to-noise ratio, reduce image misregistration, and subsequently improve hepatic ADC detection. 42 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.…”