Detecting Early‐Stage Liver Fibrosis Using Macromolecular Proton Fraction Mapping Based on Spin‐Lock MRI: Preliminary Observations. Issue 2 (26th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hou, Jian; Wong, Vincent W.‐S.; Qian, Yurui; Jiang, Baiyan; Chan, Anthony W.‐H.; Leung, Howard H.‐W.; Wong, Grace L.‐H.; Yu, Simon C.‐H.; Chu, Winnie C.‐W.; Chen, Weitian
• Is Part Of: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging. Volume 57:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 485
• Page End: 492
• Publication Date: 2022-06-26
• Subjects: macromolecular proton fraction -- magnetization transfer -- spin‐lock -- liver fibrosis -- magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28308
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-1807

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Liver fibrosis is characterized by macromolecule depositions. Recently, a novel technology termed macromolecular proton fraction quantification based on spin‐lock magnetic resonance imaging (MPF‐SL) is reported to measure macromolecule levels. Hypothesis: MPF‐SL can detect early‐stage liver fibrosis by measuring macromolecule levels in the liver. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: Fifty‐five participants, including 22 with no fibrosis (F0) and 33 with early‐stage fibrosis (F1–2), were recruited. Field Strength/Sequence: 3 T; two‐dimensional (2D) MPF‐SL turbo spin‐echo sequence, 2D spin‐lock T1rho turbo spin‐echo sequence, and multi‐slice 2D gradient echo sequence. Assessment: Macromolecular proton fraction (MPF), T1rho, liver iron concentration (LIC), and fat fraction (FF) biomarkers were quantified within regions of interest. Statistical Tests: Group comparison of the biomarkers using Mann–Whitney U tests; correlation between the biomarkers assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression with goodness‐of‐fit; fibrosis stage differentiation using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. P ‐value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Average T1rho was 41.76 ± 2.94 msec for F0 and 41.15 ± 3.73 msec for F1–2 ( P = 0.60). T1rho showed nonsignificant correlation with either liver fibrosis ( ρ = −0.07; P = 0.61) or FF ( ρ = −0.14; P = 0.35) but indicated a negative correlation with LIC ( ρ = −0.66). MPF was 4.73 ± 0.45% and 5.65 ± 0.81% for F0 and F1–2 participants, respectively. MPF showed a positive correlation with liver fibrosis ( ρ = 0.59), and no significant correlations with LIC ( ρ = 0.02; P = 0.89) or FF ( ρ = 0.05; P = 0.72). The area under the ROC curve was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75–0.95) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.39–0.71; P = 0.55) for MPF and T1rho to discriminate between F0 and F1–2 fibrosis, respectively. Data Conclusion: MPF‐SL has the potential to diagnose early‐stage liver fibrosis and does not appear to be confounded by either LIC or FF. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy Stage: 3