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MR elastography in primary sclerosing cholangitis: correlating liver stiffness with bile duct strictures and parenchymal changes

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Abstract

Aim

To determine correlation of liver stiffness measured by MR Elastography (MRE) with biliary abnormalities on MR Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MRI parenchymal features in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Methods

Fifty-five patients with PSC who underwent MRI of the liver with MRCP and MRE were retrospectively evaluated. Two board-certified abdominal radiologists in agreement reviewed the MRI, MRCP, and MRE images. The biliary tree was evaluated for stricture, dilatation, wall enhancement, and thickening at segmental duct, right main duct, left main duct, and common bile duct levels. Liver parenchyma features including signal intensity on T2W and DWI, and hyperenhancement in arterial, portal venous, and delayed phase were evaluated in nine Couinaud liver segments. Atrophy or hypertrophy of segments, cirrhotic morphology, varices, and splenomegaly were scored as present or absent. Regions of interest were placed in each of the nine segments on stiffness maps wherever available and liver stiffness (LS) was recorded. Mean segmental LS, right lobar (V–VIII), left lobar (I–III, and IVA, IVB), and global LS (average of all segments) were calculated. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed for significant correlation. Features with significant correlation were then analyzed for significant differences in mean LS. Multiple regression analysis of MRI and MRCP features was performed for significant correlation with elevated LS.

Results

A total of 439/495 segments were evaluated and 56 segments not included in MRE slices were excluded for correlation analysis. Mean segmental LS correlated with the presence of strictures (r = 0.18, p < 0.001), T2W hyperintensity (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), DWI hyperintensity (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), and hyperenhancement of segment in all three phases. Mean LS of atrophic and hypertrophic segments were significantly higher than normal segments (7.07 ± 3.6 and 6.67 ± 3.26 vs. 5.1 ± 3.6 kPa, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, only the presence of segmental strictures (p < 0.001), T2W hyperintensity (p = 0.01), and segmental hypertrophy (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with elevated segmental LS. Only left ductal stricture correlated with left lobe LS (r = 0.41, p = 0.018). Global LS correlated significantly with CBD stricture (r = 0.31, p = 0.02), number of segmental strictures (r = 0.28, p = 0.04), splenomegaly (r = 0.56, p < 0.001), and varices (r = 0.58, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In PSC, there is low but positive correlation between segmental LS and segmental duct strictures. Segments with increased LS show T2 hyperintensity, DWI hyperintensity, and post-contrast hyperenhancement. Global liver stiffness shows a moderate correlation with number of segmental strictures and significantly correlates with spleen stiffness, splenomegaly, and varices.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Miranda K. Chamley for her help in data collection, Brent Warndahl for his help with MRI protocol and Dr. Rickey Carter for his advice on statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Candice A. Bookwalter, Sudhakar K. Venkatesh & Richard L. Ehman

  2. Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    John E. Eaton

  3. Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Thomas D. Smyrk

Authors
  1. Candice A. Bookwalter
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  2. Sudhakar K. Venkatesh
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  3. John E. Eaton
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  4. Thomas D. Smyrk
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  5. Richard L. Ehman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sudhakar K. Venkatesh.

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Funding

Richard L. Ehman acknowledges the support of the National Institutes of Health grant (EB001981).

Conflict of Interest

RLE and the Mayo Clinic have a financial interest in MRE technology and hold equity in Resoundant, Inc. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for the above work.

Ethical approval

This is a retrospective study and an Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for review of patient data.

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Bookwalter, C.A., Venkatesh, S.K., Eaton, J.E. et al. MR elastography in primary sclerosing cholangitis: correlating liver stiffness with bile duct strictures and parenchymal changes. Abdom Radiol 43, 3260–3270 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-018-1590-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-018-1590-4

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