MR relaxometry of the liver: significant elevation of T1 relaxation time in patients with liver cirrhosis

作者：Heye Tobias^*; Yang Schu Ren; Bock Michael; Brost Sylvia; Weigand Kilian; Longerich Thomas; Kauczor Hans Ulrich; Hosch Waldemar

来源：European Radiology, 2012, 22(6): 1224-1232.

DOI：10.1007/s00330-012-2378-5

• MRI
• Liver
• Relaxation times
• Liver cirrhosis
• Quantitative

Objectives To evaluate hepatic relaxation times T1, T2 and T2* in healthy subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis stratified by the Child-Pugh classification (CPC).
Methods Sixty-one consecutive patients were stratified by CPC (class A = 26; B = 20; C = 15) and compared with age-matched controls ( = 31). Relaxometry measurements were performed at 1.5 T using six saturation recovery times (200-3,000 ms) to determine liver T1, six echo times (TE 14-113 ms) for T2 and eight TE (4.8-38 ms) for T2* assessment. Signal intensities in selected regions of interest in the liver parenchyma were fitted to theoretical models with least squares minimisation algorithms to determine T1, T2 and T2*.
Results The most significant difference was the higher T1 values (852 +/- 132 ms) in cirrhotic livers compared with controls (678 +/- 45 ms, < 0.0001). A less significant difference was seen for T2* (23 +/- 5 vs. 26 +/- 7 ms). Subdifferentiation showed a statistically significant difference between control group and individual CPC classes as well as between class C and classes A or B for T1 relaxation times.
Conclusion Measurement of T1 relaxation time can differentiate healthy subjects from patients with liver cirrhosis, and can distinguish between mild/moderate disease (CPC A/B) and advanced disease (CPC C).
Key Points
Significantly elevated magnetic resonance T1 relaxation times are found in liver cirrhosis.
T1 relaxation times can distinguish healthy subjects from patients with liver cirrhosis.
T1 relaxation times can distinguish Child-Pugh classes A and B from C.

• 出版日期2012-6