title: Feasibility of semiquantitative liver perfusion assessment by ferucarbotran bolus injection in double-contrast hepatic MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of semiquantitative measurement of liver perfusion from analysis of ferucarbotran induced signal-dynamics in double-contrast liver MR-imaging (DC-MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  In total 31 patients (21 men; 58 ± 10 years) including 18 patients with biopsy proven liver cirrhosis prospectively underwent clinically indicated DC-MRI at 1.5 Tesla (T) with dynamic T2-weighted gradient-echo imaging after ferucarbotran bolus injection. Breathing artefacts in tissue and input time curves were reduced by Savitzky-Golay-filtering and semiquantitative perfusion maps were calculated using a model free approach. Hepatic blood flow index (HBFI) and splenic blood flow index (SBFI) were determined by normalization of arbitrary perfusion values to the perfusion of the erector spinae muscle resulting in a semiquantitative perfusion measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 30 of 31 patients the evaluated protocol could successfully be applied. Mean HBF was 7.7 ± 2.46 (range, 4.6-12.8) and mean SBF was 13.20 ± 2.57 (range, 8.5-17.8). A significantly lower total HBF was seen in patients with cirrhotic livers as compared to patients with noncirrhotic livers (P < 0.05). In contrast, similar SBF was observed in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients (P = 0.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capturing the signal dynamics during bolus injection of ferucarbotran in DC-MRI of the liver allows for semiquantitative assessment of hepatic perfusion that may be helpful for a more precise characterisation of liver cirrhosis and focal liver lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. michaelalexander.fischer@usz.ch
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Olivio F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Caecilia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nanz
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boss
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C065507:ferumoxides