title: Signal intensity changes of the fetal liver on MRI in-phase and out-of-phase sequence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study signal intensity (SI) of the fetal liver by MRI in-phase and out-of-phase over gestational age (GA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 91 pregnant women from 19 to 38 gestational weeks were imaged using MRI. Liver-to-spleen SI ratios of the right and left fetal liver lobes on in-phase and out-of-phase were measured, calculated, and compared with each other. Curves of liver-to-spleen SI ratio of the right and left liver lobe were plotted by GA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver-to-spleen SI ratio of the right lobe on in-phase was different from that of the left liver lobe (t = 3.95; p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was also found for out-of-phase SI ratios (t = 3.69; p < 0.001). Curves of liver-to-spleen SI ratio of the fetal liver on in-phase and out-of-phase showed changes against GA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver-to-spleen SI ratio is different between the right and left liver lobe, which probably results from the different blood supply. Curves of liver-to-spleen SI ratios between 19 to 38 gestational weeks reflect the changes of decreasing function of blood production by fetal liver. In-phase and out-of-phase may have clinical use in the early detection of disordered fetal growth and metabolism.
authors: Department of Radiology, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. mrisus@gmail.com
authors: Xiaobing
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: Brugger
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Huang
authors: Gregor
authors: G
authors: Kasprian
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Bettelheim
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Prayer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D013154:Spleen