title: Magnetic resonance elastography for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to prospectively compare the success rate and diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance elastography, ultrasound elastography, and aspartate aminotransferase to platelets ratio index (APRI) measurements for the noninvasive staging of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective blind comparison of magnetic resonance elastography, ultrasound elastography, and APRI in a consecutive series of patients who underwent liver biopsy for chronic liver disease in a university-based hospital. Histopathologic staging of liver fibrosis according to the METAVIR scoring system served as the reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 141 patients were assessed. The technical success rate of magnetic resonance elastography was higher than that of ultrasound elastography (133/141 [94%] vs 118/141 [84%]; P = .016). Magnetic and ultrasound elastography, APRI measurements, and histopathologic analysis of liver biopsy specimens were technically successful in 96 patients. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of magnetic resonance elasticity (0.994 for F >or= 2; 0.985 for F >or= 3; 0.998 for F = 4) were larger (P < .05) than those of ultrasound elasticity, APRI, and the combination of ultrasound elasticity and APRI (0.837, 0.709, and 0.849 for F >or= 2; 0.906, 0.816, and 0.936 for F >or= 3; 0.930, 0.820, and 0.944 for F = 4, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance elastography has a higher technical success rate than ultrasound elastography and a better diagnostic accuracy than ultrasound elastography and APRI for staging liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Radiology Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, St-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. huwart.laurent@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huwart
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sempoux
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicaut
authors.forename: Najat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annet
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Danse
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Leon C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: ter Beek
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahier
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinkus
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horsmans
authors.forename: Bernard E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Van Beers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases