MR relaxometry of the liver: significant elevation of T1  relaxation time in patients with liver cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate hepatic relaxation times T1, T2 and T2* in healthy subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis stratified by the Child-Pugh classification (CPC).


METHODS
Sixty-one consecutive patients were stratified by CPC (class A026; B020; C015) and compared with age-matched controls (n = 31). Relaxometry measurements were performed at 1.5 T using six saturation recovery times (200-3,000 ms) to determine liver T1, six echo times (TE 14-113 ms) for T2 and eight TE (4.8-38 ms) for T2* assessment. Signal intensities in selected regions of interest in the liver parenchyma were fitted to theoretical models with least squares minimisation algorithms to determine T1, T2 and T2*.


RESULTS
The most significant difference was the higher T1 values (852 ± 132 ms) in cirrhotic livers compared with controls (678 ± 45 ms, P < 0.0001). A less significant difference was seen for T2* (23 ± 5 vs. 26 ± 7 ms). Subdifferentiation showed a statistically significant difference between control group and individual CPC classes as well as between class C and classes A or B for T1 relaxation times.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of T1 relaxation time can differentiate healthy subjects from patients with liver cirrhosis, and can distinguish between mild/moderate disease (CPC A/B) and advanced disease (CPC C).


CONCLUSIONS
• Significantly elevated magnetic resonance T1 relaxation times are found in liver cirrhosis. • T1 relaxation times can distinguish healthy subjects from patients with liver cirrhosis. • T1 relaxation times can distinguish Child-Pugh classes Aand B from C.
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. tobias.heye@web.de
Tobias
T
Heye
Schu-Ren
SR
Yang
Michael
M
Bock
Sylvia
S
Brost
Kilian
K
Weigand
Thomas
T
Longerich
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Kauczor
Waldemar
W
Hosch
D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity