Liver lobe based multi-echo gradient recalled echo T2∗ -weighted imaging in chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis: Association with the presence and child-pugh class of cirrhosis

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate whether liver lobe based T2∗ values measured on gradient recalled echo T2∗-weighted imaging are associated with the presence and Child-Pugh class of hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. Methods: Fifty-six patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and 23 healthy control individuals were enrolled in this study and underwent upper abdominal T2∗-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. T2∗ values of the left lateral lobe (LLL), left medial lobe (LML), right lobe (RL) and caudate lobe (CL) were measured on T2∗-weighted imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between liver lobe based T2∗ values and the presence and Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis. Results: The T2∗ values of the LLL, LML and RL decreased with the progression of cirrhosis from Child-Pugh class A to C (r = -0.231, -0.223, and -0.395, respectively; all P < 0.05), except that of the CL (r = -0.181, P > 0.05). To a certain extent, Mann-Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction for multigroup comparisons showed that the T2∗ values of the LLL, LML and RL could distinguish cirrhotic liver from healthy liver (all P < 0.05), whereas the T2∗ values of the CL could not (P > 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the T2∗ value of the RL could best distinguish cirrhosis from healthy liver, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.713 among T2∗ values of the liver lobes, and that only the T2∗ value of the RL could distinguish Child-Pugh class C from A-B, with an AUC of 0.697 (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: The T2∗ value of the RL can be associated with the presence and Child-Pugh class of hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.