Liver analysis using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: Correlation with histological grading and quantitative liver evaluation prior to hepatectomy.

Aim:   To examine the effectiveness of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of parenchymal liver fibrosis and quantitative liver function prior to hepatectomy.

Methods:   Between July 2008 and September 2011, the data of 93 consecutive patients undergoing preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were analyzed, including serum fibrosis marker levels (hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen), 15-min retention rates of indocyanine green (ICG-R15) in the ICG clearance test, and technetium-99m galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy results. Liver intensity values were obtained by calculating the differences between the intensity of the liver and that of other organs in the hepatobiliary phase. Degrees of liver fibrosis were quantitatively assessed (F0-4). MRI data were correlated with the prospectively acquired clinical data.

Results:   Varying degrees of liver fibrosis were detected in 31 of the 93 patients. The intensity ratio of the liver to spinal cord on MRI negatively correlated with hepatic fibrosis (R = -0.479, P < 0.001) and ICG-R15 (R = -0.492, P < 0.001). When patients with F0-2 (normal/moderate) and F3-4 (severe) liver fibrosis were compared, the intensity ratio of the enhanced liver to spinal cord (IRLS) on MRI was significantly lower in the F3-4 group than in the F0-2 group. IRLS was correlated with liver fibrosis, and, when an IRLS criterion of less than 1.702 was used, severe liver fibrosis could be predicted with 68.8% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity.

Conclusion:   Preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI analysis can detect quantitative indicators of liver fibrosis and function, thus aiding the assessment of hepatic remnants prior to hepatectomy.