Equilibrium CT Texture Analysis for the Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis: Preliminary Evaluation against Histopathology and Extracellular Volume Fraction.

Jason Yeung,Simon Wan,Raymond Endozo,Stuart A Taylor,Andrew Hall,Steve Bandula,Balaji Ganeshan,Ashley Groves

doi:10.3390/jpm10020046

Jason Yeung, Simon Wan + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10020046

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Abstract

Background: Evaluate equilibrium contrast-enhanced CT (EQ-CT) texture analysis (EQ-CTTA) against histologically-quantified fibrosis, serum-based enhanced liver fibrosis panel (ELF) and imaging-based extracellular volume fraction (ECV) in chronic hepatitis. Methods: This study was a re-analysis of image data from a previous prospective study. Pre- and equilibrium-phase post-IV contrast CT datasets were collected from patients with chronic hepatitis with contemporaneous liver biopsy and serum ELF measurement between April 2011 and July 2013. Biopsy samples were analysed to derive collagen proportionate area (CPA). EQ-CTTA was performed with a filtration histogram technique using texture analysis software, with texture quantification using statistical and histogram-based metrics (mean, skewness, standard deviation, entropy, etc.). Association between pre-contrast and EQ-CTTA against CPA, ECV and ELF was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs). Results: Complete datasets collected in 29 patients (16 male; 13 female), mean age (range): 49 (22–66 years). Liver ECV, CPA and ELF had a median (interquartile range) of 0.26 (0.24–0.29); 5.0 (3.0–13.7) and 9.71 (8.39–10.92). Difference in segment VII hepatic CTTA (medium texture scale) between EQ-CT and pre-contrast images was significantly and positively associated with ELF score (mean: rs = 0.69, p < 0.001; skewness: rs = 0.57, p = 0.007). Significant negative associations were observed between pre-contrast and EQ-CT whole hepatic CTTA (coarse texture scale) with CPA (pre-contrast, SD: rs = −0.66, p < 0.001) and ECV (EQ-CT, entropy: rs = −0.58, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Hepatic EQ-CTTA demonstrates significant association with validated markers of liver fibrosis, suggesting a role in non-invasive quantification of severity in diffuse fibrosis.

Highlights

Chronic liver disease is a major global public health issue
Hepatocellular injury leads to an inflammatory reaction which results in diffuse deposition of fibrous tissue within the parenchyma, leading to eventual cirrhosis
When activated into a myofibroblast-like phenotype, they lay down collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to expansion of the extracellular space, distortion of normal architecture, abnormal blood flow and eventual impairment of hepatic function [4]

Summary

Introduction

Hepatocellular injury leads to an inflammatory reaction which results in diffuse deposition of fibrous tissue within the parenchyma, leading to eventual cirrhosis. This is mediated by hepatic stellate cells, which, in health, are non-proliferative and quiescent. Evaluate equilibrium contrast-enhanced CT (EQ-CT) texture analysis (EQ-CTTA) against histologically-quantified fibrosis, serum-based enhanced liver fibrosis panel (ELF) and imaging-based extracellular volume fraction (ECV) in chronic hepatitis. Difference in segment VII hepatic CTTA (medium texture scale) between EQ-CT and pre-contrast images was significantly and positively associated with ELF score (mean: rs = 0.69, p < 0.001; skewness: rs = 0.57, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Hepatic EQ-CTTA demonstrates significant association with validated markers of liver fibrosis, suggesting a role in non-invasive quantification of severity in diffuse fibrosis

Methods

Results

Conclusion