The system for assessing liver function according to magnetic resonance imaging with gadoxetic acid

Abstract

Purpose. To develop a system for assessing liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadoxetic acid.Material and Methods. Data from studies of 74 patients who underwent abdominal MRI with intravenous gadoxetic acid (GA) enhancement were analyzed. For statistical analysis of the data, two groups were formed: group 1 (n = 22) comprised patients with unchanged liver parenchyma, normal liver function, and benign tumors; group 2 (n = 52) comprised patients with liver cirrhosis, with the presence of regenerative and/or dysplastic nodes, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The following quantitative parameters were studied to assess liver function in patients of two groups: relative enhancement (RE), contrast enhancement index (CEI), liver/skeletal muscle (SM) index, liver/spleen index, liver/kidney index, analysis of histograms (AH), and liver function imaging scale (FLIS).Results. The criteria for a functional deficiency of liver function based on calculated data of contrast agent transport and accumulation were a decrease in FLIS total score to 4 and below, RE values below 0.85, and CEI values below 1.38 with sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 75%, the values of liver/SM and liver/kidney indices below 0.350, liver/spleen index below 0.750 with sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 81%, respectively, in patients with cirrhosis.Conclusion. The developed system for assessing liver function using FLIS, intensity matching analysis (IMA), and AH according to MRI with GC in comparison with METAVIR allowed for liver function assessment in patients with cirrhosis with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 80%, respectively.