Quantitative analysis of liver function: 3D variable-flip-angle versus Look-Locker T1 relaxometry in hepatocyte-specific contrast-enhanced liver MRI

Verloh, Niklas and Fuhrmann, Irene and Fellner, Claudia and Nickel, Dominik and Zeman, Florian and Kandulski, Arne and Hornung, Matthias and Stroszczynski, Christian and Wiggermann, Philipp and Haimerl, Michael (2022) Quantitative analysis of liver function: 3D variable-flip-angle versus Look-Locker T1 relaxometry in hepatocyte-specific contrast-enhanced liver MRI. QUANTITATIVE IMAGING IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY, 12 (4). pp. 2509-2522. ISSN 2223-4292, 2223-4306

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Abstract

Background: Gd-EOB-DTPA, a liver specific contrast agent with T1- shortening effects, is routinely used in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced T1 relaxometry has recently received increasing attention as a tool for the quantitative analyses of liver function. However, this T1 relaxometry technique is limited due to various artifacts caused by B1 inhomogeneities and motion artifacts. This study aims to compare two different Ti relaxometry techniques for evaluating liver function as determined using a C-13-methacetin-based breath test (C-13-AMT). Methods: Ninety-six patients underwent gadoxetic add-enhanced MRI of the liver at 3T and a C-13-MBT. Two different prototype sequences for T1 relaxometry were used, a 31) VIBE sequence using Dixon waterfat separation and variable-flip-angles (VFA), as well as a 2D Look-Locker sequence (LL). Images were acquired before (T1 pre) and 20 minutes after (T1 post) administration of liver-specific contrast agent to evaluate the reduction rates of T1 relaxation time (rrT1) in accordance with the C-13-MBT outcome. To analyze both MR sequences' performance, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between four ROI measurements within the same liver and the coefficient of repeatability (CR) were calculated. Results: T1 relaxometry measurements based on MR sequences, VFA, and LL show a constant change in line with impaired liver function progression. Simple regression models showed a log-linear correlation of 13C-MBT values with all evaluated T1 relaxometry measurements (VFA T1post, VFA rrT1, LL T1post, LL rrT1, P<0.001). Both ICC (VFA T1post, LL T1post; 0.75, 0.95) and CR (VFA T1 post, LL T1 post; 179, 101) showed a better agreement between ROI measurements using the LL sequence. Conclusions: Both T1 relaxometry sequences are suitable for the evaluation of liver function based on C-13-MBT. However, the Look-Locker sequence is less susceptible to artifacts and might be more advantageous, especially in patients with impaired liver function.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: GD-EOB-DTPA; RELAXATION-TIMES; HEPATIC-FUNCTION; FATTY LIVER; EFFICACY; TISSUE; VOLUME; AGENT; PHASE; T-1; Liver; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); gadolinium DTPA; T1 quantification
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Chirurgie
Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I
Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Röntgendiagnostik
Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Zentrum für Klinische Studien
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2024 10:27
Last Modified: 01 Feb 2024 10:29
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/56605

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