I Sack1, T Fischer, A Thomas, J Braun. 1. Institut für Radiologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany. ingolf.sack@charite.de
Abstract
CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: The early detection of liver fibrosis remains a major challenge in medical imaging. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: Nowadays staging of liver fibrosis is not a task for radiological examinations and the gold standard is liver puncture. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Elastography is sensitive to the mechanical properties of soft tissues and in the liver stiffness is highly correlated to the degree of fibrosis. In magnetic resonance imaging elastography (MRE) time-harmonic vibrations are induced in the liver and encoded by motion-sensitive phase-contrast sequences. Viscoelastic constants are recovered from the obtained wave images and displayed by so-called elastograms. PERFORMANCE: The MRE procedure is able to discriminate low grades of fibrosis (F0-F1) from medium and severe fibrosis (F2-F4) with a diagnostic accuracy (AUROC) of 0.92. ACHIEVEMENTS: Currently, MRE is the most sensitive imaging modality for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Current technical developments of MRE may further improve the accuracy of the method towards a new gold standard for noninvasive staging of fibrosis by radiologists.
CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: The early detection of liver fibrosis remains a major challenge in medical imaging. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: Nowadays staging of liver fibrosis is not a task for radiological examinations and the gold standard is liver puncture. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Elastography is sensitive to the mechanical properties of soft tissues and in the liver stiffness is highly correlated to the degree of fibrosis. In magnetic resonance imaging elastography (MRE) time-harmonic vibrations are induced in the liver and encoded by motion-sensitive phase-contrast sequences. Viscoelastic constants are recovered from the obtained wave images and displayed by so-called elastograms. PERFORMANCE: The MRE procedure is able to discriminate low grades of fibrosis (F0-F1) from medium and severe fibrosis (F2-F4) with a diagnostic accuracy (AUROC) of 0.92. ACHIEVEMENTS: Currently, MRE is the most sensitive imaging modality for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Current technical developments of MRE may further improve the accuracy of the method towards a new gold standard for noninvasive staging of fibrosis by radiologists.
Authors: Rahul Rustogi; Jeanne Horowitz; Carla Harmath; Yi Wang; Hamid Chalian; Daniel R Ganger; Zongming E Chen; Bradley D Bolster; Saurabh Shah; Frank H Miller Journal: J Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2012-01-13 Impact factor: 4.813
Authors: Yi Wang; Daniel R Ganger; Josh Levitsky; Laura A Sternick; Robert J McCarthy; Zongming E Chen; Charles W Fasanati; Bradley Bolster; Saurabh Shah; Sven Zuehlsdorff; Reed A Omary; Richard L Ehman; Frank H Miller Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: Sudhakar K Venkatesh; Meng Yin; James F Glockner; Naoki Takahashi; Philip A Araoz; Jayant A Talwalkar; Richard L Ehman Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2008-06 Impact factor: 3.959