Spleen size measured on enhanced MRI for quantitatively staging liver fibrosis in minipigs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether and how spleen size measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to stage liver fibrosis.


METHODS
Sixteen minipigs were used to prospectively model liver fibrosis staged by biopsy. Abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling. Splenic maximal width (W), thickness (T), length (L), and area (S) together with spleen volume (SV) and liver volume (LV) were measured on enhanced MRI and the ratio of SV to LV (SV/LV) was calculated. Spleen multidimensional indexes 1 and 2 were obtained by W × T × L and S × L, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed to determine which parameter could best stage the fibrosis.


RESULTS
W, T, L, S, SV, index 1 and 2, and SV/LV tended to increase with increasing stages of fibrosis (r = 0.46-0.796, all P < 0.001), and might predict liver fibrosis stage ≥1, ≥2, ≥3, and 4 (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.697-1.0, all P < 0.05). Among the parameters, splenic index 1, SV, and SV/LV might be best for predicting stage ≥1 (AUC = 0.941), ≥2 or ≥3 (AUC = 0.875 or 0.978, respectively), and 4 (AUC = 1.0), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Spleen size measured on MRI could be used for staging liver fibrosis.
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, and Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College Shunqing District, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
Xiao-li
XL
Chen
Tian-wu
TW
Chen
Zhen-lin
ZL
Li
Xiao-ming
XM
Zhang
Nan
N
Chen
Nan-lin
NL
Zeng
Hang
H
Li
Hong-jie
HJ
Tang
Yu
Y
Pu
Chun-ping
CP
Li
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
liver fibrosis; magnetic resonance imaging; spleen size; stage