Ruo Fan Sheng1, He Qing Wang1, Li Yang1, Kai Pu Jin1, Yan Hong Xie2, Cai Zhong Chen1, Meng Su Zeng3. 1. Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, No. 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. 2. Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. 3. Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, No. 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. mengsuzeng@163.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the diagnostic value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in assessing and quantifying hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into the control group (n = 6) and the fibrosis experimental groups (n = 6 per group) with CCl4 administration for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Liver fibrosis stage (S) and necroinflammatory activity grade (G) were histopathologically determined. DKI and DWI were performed; mean apparent diffusion (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated. DKI parameters were compared with ADC values according to G/S scores. RESULTS: Strong inverse correlations were found between the degree of fibrosis and both MD and ADC (r = -0.840 and r = -0.760), while only weak correlation existed in MK (r = 0.405). ROC analyses demonstrated the AUC in MD, MK, and ADC of 0.862, 0.684, 0.817 for identifying mild and severe fibrosis, and 0.757, 0.675, 0.733 for non-cirrhosis and cirrhosis, respectively. The degree of fibrosis was significantly correlated with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (P < 0.0001); α-SMA had strong inverse correlation with MD (r = -0.723), moderate inverse correlation with ADC (r = -0.613), and very weak correlation with MK (r = 0.175). Additionally, MD was strongly correlated with the necroinflammatory activity (r = -0.758), ADC was moderately correlated (r = -0.492), and MK was weakly correlated (r = 0.254). CONCLUSION: DKI may provide added information and serve as a valuable tool for the characterization and surveillance of liver fibrosis in a non-invasive manner.
PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the diagnostic value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in assessing and quantifying hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into the control group (n = 6) and the fibrosis experimental groups (n = 6 per group) with CCl4 administration for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Liver fibrosis stage (S) and necroinflammatory activity grade (G) were histopathologically determined. DKI and DWI were performed; mean apparent diffusion (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated. DKI parameters were compared with ADC values according to G/S scores. RESULTS: Strong inverse correlations were found between the degree of fibrosis and both MD and ADC (r = -0.840 and r = -0.760), while only weak correlation existed in MK (r = 0.405). ROC analyses demonstrated the AUC in MD, MK, and ADC of 0.862, 0.684, 0.817 for identifying mild and severe fibrosis, and 0.757, 0.675, 0.733 for non-cirrhosis and cirrhosis, respectively. The degree of fibrosis was significantly correlated with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (P < 0.0001); α-SMA had strong inverse correlation with MD (r = -0.723), moderate inverse correlation with ADC (r = -0.613), and very weak correlation with MK (r = 0.175). Additionally, MD was strongly correlated with the necroinflammatory activity (r = -0.758), ADC was moderately correlated (r = -0.492), and MK was weakly correlated (r = 0.254). CONCLUSION: DKI may provide added information and serve as a valuable tool for the characterization and surveillance of liver fibrosis in a non-invasive manner.
Authors: Xin Zheng; Min Li; Pan Wang; Xiangnan Li; Qiang Zhang; Song Zeng; Tao Jiang; Xiaopeng Hu Journal: BMC Med Imaging Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 1.930