Quantification of Liver Fibrosis at T1 and T2 Mapping with Extracellular Volume Fraction MRI: Preclinical Results

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate MRI T1 and T2 mapping with calculation of extracellular volume (ECV) for diagnosis and grading of liver fibrosis. Materials and Methods Different grades of fibrosis were induced in 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats by bile duct ligation (BDL) and carbon-tetrachloride (CCl) intoxication. Portal pressure was measured invasively, whereas hepatic fibrosis was quantified by hydroxyproline content, Sirius red staining, and α smooth muscle actin staining. T1 values, T2 values, and ECV were assessed by using quantitative MRI mapping techniques. Results T1 values in animals 4 weeks after BDL were greater than in control animals (718 msec ± 74 vs 578 msec ± 33, respectively; P < .001). T2 values at 4 weeks were also greater in animals that underwent BDL than in control animals (46 msec ± 6 vs 29 msec ± 2, respectively; P < .001). Similar T1 and T2 findings were observed after CCl intoxication. ECV was greater in animals 4 weeks after BDL compared with control animals (31.3% ± 1.3 vs 18.2% ± 3.5, respectively; P < .001), with similar results after CCl intoxication. High correlations were found between ECV and hepatic hydroxyproline content (BDL: r = 0.68, P < .001; CCl: r = 0.65, P < .001), Sirius red staining (BDL: r = 0.88, P < .001; CCl: r = 0.82, P < .001), α smooth muscle actin staining (BDL: r = 0.70, P < .001; CCl: r = 0.73, P < .001), and portal pressure (BDL: r = 0.54, P = .003; CCl: r = 0.39, P = .043). Conclusion Elevation of T1 and T2 values and ECV was associated with severity of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension in an experimental animal model.

Hepatic magnetic resonance T1-mapping and extracellular volume fraction compared to shear-wave elastography in pediatric Fontan-associated liver disease

“…It is impossible with elastography to distinguish among these components with certainty. Specific MR sequences, like T2 mapping and T1 rho, might be helpful in discriminating fibrosis from edema in the future [30,31]. On the other hand, a composite of hepatic congestion and fibrosis measures might be important, clinically, in the longitudinal follow-up of Fontan liver disease [32].…”

Clinical and Preclinical Imaging of Hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis

“…Double contrast-enhanced MRI using gadolinium-based CAs and SPIOs with or without texture analysis has been used to differentiate early liver fibrosis from advanced disease with excellent results [23,54,55]. Collagen fiber deposition in the space of Disse leads to an increase of the extracellular space quantifiable as the distribution volume fraction of nonspecific CA in the parenchymal (equilibrium) phase by MRI (or CT) [56][57][58][59]. Preclinical studies have shown that the liver accumulation of collagen targeted CAs correlates with histological fibrosis scores [60].…”

Intracellular accumulation capacity of gadoxetate: initial results for a novel biomarker of liver function

“…Calculation of the ECV normalized for hematocrit using an extracellular contrast agent was described elsewhere 9,11,13,14 : www.nature.com/scientificreports/ For hepatocyte specific contrast agents, one may assume a low-level equilibrium between intravascular und extracellular compartment, and a mainly intracellular storage. An illustration can be found in Fig.…”