Quantification of superparamagnetic iron oxide-mediated signal intensity change in patients with liver cirrhosis using T2 and T2* mapping: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: To quantify the accumulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in patients with and without liver cirrhosis using T2 and T2* mapping.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 10 patients without liver cirrhosis and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A, n = 18; and B/C, n = 12). T2 and T2* mapping were performed before and after SPIO administration. The reductions in T2 (DeltaT2) and T2* (DeltaT2*) after SPIO administration were compared between the control and liver cirrhosis groups and the control, Child-Pugh A, and Child Pugh B/C groups.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in DeltaT2 (22.2 +/- 4.4 and 15.1 +/- 7.0) and DeltaT2* values (24.3 +/- 3.3 and 16.8 +/- 8.1) (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001) between the control and the liver cirrhosis groups. There was a significant difference in the DeltaT2* between the Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh B/C groups (P < 0.001) and in the DeltaT2 and DeltaT2* between the control and Child-Pugh B/C groups (P = 0.018 and P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: DeltaT2 and DeltaT2* are significantly larger in patients without liver cirrhosis than those with liver cirrhosis. DeltaT2* is also significantly larger in Child-Pugh class A patients than those in Child-Pugh B/C.