Purpose
To define MR capability in evaluating fat liver variation after a specific dietetic therapy,
compared with body-mass-index (BMI) and subcutaneous abdominal fat tissue (FT) thickness and to define which sequence (GRE vs TSE) demonstrates the higher accuracy if compared to the overall MR examination results,
testing a new dedicated software (Liver Sight),
developed using MatLab environment,
in steatosis definition.
Methods and Materials
20 patients (13 ♂ and 7 ♀;age 32-70 years) with non-alcoholic liver steatosis,
diagnosed by liver US and clinical laboratory tests,underwent MR examination and BMI and FT measurement,
before and three months after a standardized dietetic therapy.
MR examinations were peformed witha 1.5 T Superconducting magnet (Magnetom Symphony,
Siemens)withhigh performing gradients (30 mT / m)and 6 breath-hold axial sequences:
-4 GRE T1-weighted sequences with IN/OUT phase TE
-2 TSE T2-weighted sequences with/without fat saturation
HFF (hepatic fat fraction) was measured and its percentage of variation...
Results
10 patients showed HFF reduction after diet,
with a good correlation with BMI and FT.
One patient with inadequate diet showed a normal HFF and FT but a worsening of BMI.
TSE T2-weighted sequences were more accurate to evaluate HFF and itspercentage of reduction.
FLA evaluationwas easier and quicker than manual one.
Conclusion
Magnetic Resonance revealed to be anon-invasive andwell toleratedtechnique for the quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis,
free from ionizing radiation; itis a promising tool for monitoring HFF during diet therapy,
thanks to its reproducibility and the possibility of an objective comparisonand it shows a very good correlation with anthropometric and bioumoral data.
FLA processes MR DICOM Images in an automatic way completely transparent for the end-user and calculates HFF in a quick and easy way.
References
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GOH J.S.
E ALTRI Accuracy of Liver Fat Quantification at MR Imaging: Comparison of Out-of-Phase Gradient-Echo and Fat-saturated Fast Spin-Echo Thecniques - Initial Experience. Radiology 2005; 237: 507-511.
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