title: Volume-assisted estimation of liver function based on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether liver function as determined by indocyanine green (ICG) clearance can be estimated quantitatively from hepatic magnetic resonance (MR) relaxometry with gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven patients underwent an ICG clearance test and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, including MR relaxometry at 3 Tesla. A transverse 3D VIBE sequence with an inline T1 calculation was acquired prior to and 20 minutes post-Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. The reduction rate of T1 relaxation time (rrT1) between pre- and post-contrast images and the liver volume-assisted index of T1 reduction rate (LVrrT1) were evaluated. The plasma disappearance rate of ICG (ICG-PDR) was correlated with the liver volume (LV), rrT1 and LVrrT1, providing an MRI-based estimated ICG-PDR value (ICG-PDRest).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simple linear regression model showed a significant correlation of ICG-PDR with LV (r = 0.32; p = 0.001), T1post (r = 0.65; p < 0.001) and rrT1 (r = 0.86; p < 0.001). Assessment of LV and consecutive evaluation of multiple linear regression model revealed a stronger correlation of ICG-PDR with LVrrT1 (r = 0.92; p < 0.001), allowing for the calculation of ICG-PDRest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver function as determined using ICG-PDR can be estimated quantitatively from Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry. Volume-assisted MR relaxometry has a stronger correlation with liver function than does MR relaxometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Measurement of T1 relaxation times in Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging quantifies liver function. • Volume-assisted Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry has stronger correlation with ICG-PDR than does Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry. • Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry may provide robust parameters for detecting and characterizing liver disease. • Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry may be useful for monitoring liver disease progression. • Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR relaxometry has the potential to become a novel liver function index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany. michael.haimerl@ukr.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haimerl
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlabeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, 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, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fellner
authors.affiliation: MR Applications Development, Siemens AG, Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Barreiros
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loss
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stroszczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiggermann
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Gd-EOB-DTPA–enhanced imaging; Indocyanine green clearance; Liver function; Magnetic resonance imaging; T1 relaxometry