Use case VI: Imaging biomarkers in diffuse liver disease. Quantification of fat and Iron

Abstract

Diffuse liver diseases result from a wide spectrum of etiologies, and, since they can lead to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma, they represent an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs worldwide. Regardless of the etiology, liver fat, iron, and combined overload are common pathological features of different diffuse liver diseases. Fat and iron frequently coexist and they act as cofactors in disease progression. Because liver biopsy has several limitations, quantitative imaging biomarkers have been developed for liver fat and iron quantification.