title: Quantitative assessment of hepatic function: modified look-locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence for T1 mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced liver MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether multislice T1 mapping of the liver using a modified look-locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used as a quantitative tool to estimate liver function and predict the presence of oesophageal or gastric varices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phantoms filled with gadoxetic acid were scanned three times using MOLLI sequence to test repeatability. Patients with chronic liver disease or liver cirrhosis who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI including MOLLI sequence at 3 T were included (n = 343). Pre- and postcontrast T1 relaxation times of the liver (T1liver), changes between pre- and postcontrast T1liver (ΔT1liver), and adjusted postcontrast T1liver (postcontrast T1liver-T1spleen/T1spleen) were compared among Child-Pugh classes. In 62 patients who underwent endoscopy, all T1 parameters and spleen sizes were correlated with varices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phantom study showed excellent repeatability of MOLLI sequence. As Child-Pugh scores increased, pre- and postcontrast T1liver were significantly prolonged (P < 0.001), and ΔT1liver and adjusted postcontrast T1liver decreased (P < 0.001). Adjusted postcontrast T1liver and spleen size were independently associated with varices (R (2) = 0.29, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T1 mapping of the liver using MOLLI sequence on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI demonstrated potential in quantitatively estimating liver function, and adjusted postcontrast T1liver was significantly associated with varices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • T1 mapping using MOLLI sequence can be achieved within a breath-hold. • T1liver measured by MOLLI sequence provided excellent short-term repeatability. • Precontrast and postcontrast T1liver were significantly prolonged as Child-Pugh scores increased. • Adjusted postcontrast T1liver and spleen size were independently associated with varices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. jmsh@snu.ac.kr.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea. jmsh@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Siemens Healthcare, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Munyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Ihn
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D062485:Breath Holding; D003287:Contrast Media; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Gadoxetic acid; Liver function estimation; MOLLI; Magnetic resonance imaging; T1 map