title: Assessment of clinical signs of liver cirrhosis using T1 mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the differences between normal and cirrhotic livers by means of T1 mapping of liver parenchyma on gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced 3 Tesla (3T) MR imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  162 patients with normal (n = 96) and cirrhotic livers (n = 66; Child-Pugh class A, n = 30; B, n = 28; C, n = 8) underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MRI. To obtain T1 maps, two TurboFLASH sequences (TI = 400 ms and 1000 ms) before and 20 min after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration were acquired. T1 relaxation times of the liver and the reduction rate between pre- and post-contrast enhancement images were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T1 relaxation times for Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI showed significant differences between patients with normal liver function and patients with Child-Pugh class A, B, and C (p < 0.001). The T1 relaxation times showed a constant significant increase from Child-Pugh class A up to class C (Child-Pugh class A, 335 ms ± 80 ms; B, 431 ms ± 75 ms; C, 557 ms ± 99 ms; Child-Pugh A to B, p < 0.001; Child-Pugh A to C, p < 0.001; Child-Pugh B to C, p < 0.001) and a constant decrease of the reduction rate of T1 relaxation times (Child-Pugh class A, 57.1% ± 8.8%; B, 44.3% ± 10.2%, C, 29.9% ± 6.9%; Child-Pugh A to B, p < 0.001; Child-Pugh A to C,p < 0.001; Child-Pugh B to C, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced T1 mapping of the liver parenchyma may present a useful method for determining severity of liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haimerl
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verloh
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Trials, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fellner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller-Wille
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schreyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stroszczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiggermann
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA