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CT and MR perfusion techniques to assess diffuse liver disease

  • Special Section: Diffuse Liver Disease
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Abstract

Perfusion imaging allows for the quantitative extraction of physiological perfusion parameters of the liver microcirculation at levels far below the spatial the resolution of CT and MR imaging. Because of its peculiar structure and architecture, perfusion imaging is more challenging in the liver than in other organs. Indeed, the liver is a mobile organ and significantly deforms with respiratory motion. Moreover, it has a dual vascular supply and the sinusoidal capillaries are fenestrated in the normal liver. Using extracellular contrast agents, perfusion imaging has shown its ability to discriminate patients with various stages of liver fibrosis. The recent introduction of hepatobiliary contrast agents enables quantification of both the liver perfusion and the hepatocyte transport function using advanced perfusion models. The purpose of this review article is to describe the characteristics of liver perfusion imaging to assess chronic liver disease, with a special focus on CT and MR imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, APHP, University Hospitals Paris Nord Val de Seine, Beaujon, Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France

    Maxime Ronot, Benjamin Leporq, Bernard E. Van Beers & Valérie Vilgrain

  2. University of Paris, Paris, France

    Maxime Ronot, Benjamin Leporq, Bernard E. Van Beers & Valérie Vilgrain

  3. Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, INSERM U1149, Centre for Research on Inflammation, Paris, France

    Maxime Ronot, Benjamin Leporq, Bernard E. Van Beers & Valérie Vilgrain

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  1. Maxime Ronot
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Ronot, M., Leporq, B., Van Beers, B.E. et al. CT and MR perfusion techniques to assess diffuse liver disease. Abdom Radiol 45, 3496–3506 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-02338-z

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