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Chronological evaluation of liver enhancement in patients with chronic liver disease at Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3-T MR imaging: does liver function correlate with enhancement?

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Japanese Journal of Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the chronological relationship between scan delay and liver enhancement for the hepatobiliary phase on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and evaluate the effects of liver function on liver enhancement.

Materials and methods

Hepatobiliary-phase images were retrospectively evaluated in 125 patients with chronic liver disease. Hepatobiliary phase images were obtained at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after injection. We calculated relative liver enhancement (RLE) at t min after injection by dividing the signal intensity (SI) of the liver at t min by precontrast SI. We compared RLE values at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min and evaluated the detectability of focal hepatic lesions. We analyzed the effect of liver function on RLE with the generalized linear model.

Results

There was not significant difference in RLE and lesion detectability at 15 and 20 min. RLE in the Child–Pugh C group was significantly lower than in the Child–Pugh A and B groups. The serum albumin level and prothrombin time were significantly correlated with the liver enhancement.

Conclusion

A delay time of 15 min for the hepatobiliary phase was thought to be adequate in patients with mild liver dysfunction. The serum albumin level and prothrombin time would be predictive of liver enhancement in the hepatobiliary phase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Shinichi Nakamura, Daisuke Utsunomiya, Tomohiro Namimoto & Yasuyuki Yamashita

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Kazuo Awai

  3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Amakusa Regional Medical Center, 854-1 Jikiba, Kemeba, Amakusa, Kumamoto, 863-0046, Japan

    Takeshi Nakaura

  4. Department of Central Radiology, Kumamoto University Hospital, 1-1-1 Honjyo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Kosuke Morita

Authors
  1. Shinichi Nakamura
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  2. Kazuo Awai
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  3. Daisuke Utsunomiya
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  4. Tomohiro Namimoto
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  5. Takeshi Nakaura
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Correspondence to Shinichi Nakamura.

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Nakamura, S., Awai, K., Utsunomiya, D. et al. Chronological evaluation of liver enhancement in patients with chronic liver disease at Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3-T MR imaging: does liver function correlate with enhancement?. Jpn J Radiol 30, 25–33 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0003-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0003-1

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