Usefulness of T1 mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging in assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the value of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for diagnosis and staging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an animal model by T1 relaxation time measurement.


METHODS
Thirty-four rabbits were divided into the control group (n = 10) and NAFLD group, which was split into four groups (n = 6) with a high-fat diet for an interval of 3 weeks. A dual flip angle was performed before and at the hepatobiliary phase (HBP). T1 relaxation times of the liver parenchyma and the decrease rate (∆%) were calculated. Histological findings according to semi-quantitative scoring of steatosis, activity and fibrosis were the standard of reference.


RESULTS
HBP and ∆% T1 relaxation time measurement showed significant differences between normal and NAFLD groups, between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NAFLD without NASH (p = 0.000-0.049), between fibrosis groups (p = 0.000-0.019), but no difference between F1 and F2 (p = 0.834). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of T1 relaxation time for HBP and ∆% were 0.86-0.93 for the selection of NASH and activity score ≥2, and 0.86-0.95 for the selection of F ≥ 1, 2, 3. No significant difference was found for diagnostic performance between HBP and ∆% T1 relaxation time.


CONCLUSIONS
HBP T1 relaxation time measurement of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was useful to evaluate NAFLD according to the SAF score. HBP T1 relaxation time measurement was as accurate as ∆% T1 relaxation time.


CONCLUSIONS
• Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI could give useful information on NAFLD. •HBP T 1 relaxation time measurement was useful for the evaluation of NAFLD. • HBP T 1 relaxation time measurement was as accurate as ∆%.
Department of Radiology, Zhongshan/Hospital of Fudan University, No 180/Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China, 200032, ding.ying@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
Ying
Y
Ding
Sheng-Xiang
SX
Rao
Tao
T
Meng
Caizhong
C
Chen
Renchen
R
Li
Meng-Su
MS
Zeng
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D011817:Rabbits
D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA