Liver parenchymal enhancement of hepatocyte-phase images in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging: which biological markers of the liver function affect the enhancement?
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the factors that predict enhancement of the liver parenchyma in hepatocyte-phase of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR imaging.


METHODS
Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatocyte-phase MR images of 198 patients with chronic liver diseases (Child-Pugh class A in 112 patients, class B in 74 patients, and class C in 12 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. The hepatocyte-phase images were obtained using fat-suppressed T1-weighted gradient-echo images with a 3D acquisition sequence 10 min and 20 min after IV administration of Gd-EOB-DTPA (0.025 mmol/kg body weight). The quantitative liver-spleen contrast ratio (Q-LSC) was calculated using the signal intensities of the liver and spleen. Serum albumin levels, total bilirubin levels, prothrombin activity, and the results of indocyanine green clearance tests (ICGs) were recorded and correlated with the Q-LSC. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze which factors predict sufficient liver enhancement using a Q-LSC of 1.5 as a cutoff value.


RESULTS
Only ICGs and Child-Pugh classifications showed a statistically significant correlation with the Q-LSC. Logistic regression analysis showed that ICGs were the only factors that accurately predicted liver enhancement on hepatocyte-phase images.


CONCLUSIONS
ICGs were found to be predictors of sufficient liver enhancement on hepatocyte-phase images.
Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Chuo-shi, Japan. utaroh-motosugi@nifty.com
Utaroh
U
Motosugi
Tomoaki
T
Ichikawa
Hironobu
H
Sou
Katsuhiro
K
Sano
Licht
L
Tominaga
Takatoshi
T
Kitamura
Tsutomu
T
Araki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA