title: Spleen magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging for quantitative staging hepatic fibrosis in miniature pigs: An initial study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether spleen diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters might classify liver fibrosis stage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen miniature pigs were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis, and underwent spleen DWI by using b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2) on 0, 5th, 9th, 16th and 21st weekend after the beginning of modeling. Signal intensity ratio of spleen to paraspinous muscles (S/M), spleen exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each b-value were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With increasing stages of fibrosis, S/M for all b-values showed a downward trend; and spleen eADC and ADC for b = 300 s/mm(2) showed downward and upward trends, respectively (all P < 0.05). The area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) of spleen DWI parameters was 0.777 or more by S/M for classifying each fibrosis stage, and 0.65 or more by eADC and 0.648 or more by ADC for classifying stage ≥3 or cirrhosis. Among the spleen DWI parameters, S/M for b = 300 s/mm(2) was the best parameter in classifying stage 1 or more, 2 or more and 3 or more with AUC of 0.875, 0.851 and 0.843, respectively; and spleen eADC for b = 300 s/mm(2) was best in classifying stage 4 with an AUC of 0.988.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spleen DWI may be used to stage liver fibrosis.
authors: Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
authors: Xiao-Li
authors: XL
authors: Chen
authors: Tian-Wu
authors: TW
authors: Chen
authors: Xiao-Ming
authors: XM
authors: Zhang
authors: Zhen-Lin
authors: ZL
authors: Li
authors: Hang
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Nan-Lin
authors: NL
authors: Zeng
authors: Hong-Jie
authors: HJ
authors: Tang
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Pu
authors: Nan
authors: N
authors: Chen
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Yang
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Xian-Yong
authors: XY
authors: Xie
authors: Jiani
authors: J
authors: Hu
keywords: apparent diffusion coefficient; diffusion-weighted imaging; exponential apparent diffusion coefficient; liver fibrosis; signal intensity; spleen