Quantification of hepatic steatosis and siderosis on 3T MR using methods of two-point Dixon, multiecho Dixon with T2 * relaxometry and 1H MR spectroscopy with T2 relaxometry
Abstract
Aim: Our study deals with our first experience with quantification of liver fat and iron concentration at 3T MRI using two-point Dixon technique, multiecho Dixon technique combined with T2* relaxometry and single voxel 1H spectroscopy in combination with T2 relaxometry. Methods: 55 MR examinations were included into the study.
The examinations were performed using a software package Liver-Lab (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), which contains the sequence and posprocessing tools enabling evaluation using techniques that are mentioned above. As reference methods we used 1H single voxel spectroscopy and serum ferritin.
Results: In decision on the presence of steatosis two-point Dixon reached sensitivity (SE) 72.4% and specificity (SP) 80.7% compared to MR spectroscopy. Multiecho Dixon with measurement in the regio of interest that coincide with the area of interest for spectroscopy, had in decision on the presence of steatosis SE 72.4% and 92.3% SP.
In quantification it reached a very high agreement with spectroscopy, r = 0.93. When deciding on the presence of hepatic siderosis two-point Dixon compared to serum feritine level reached SE 69,2% and SP 60.0%.
T2* relaxometry had in decision on the presence of siderosis SE 92.3% and SP 100%. In quantification it reached a high agreement with serum ferritin, r = 0.74.
At T2 relaxometry was when deciding on the presence siderosis SE 61.5% and 80.0% SP. Agreement with serum ferritin was low, r = 0.28.
When comparing T2 and T2* relaxometry the agreement of both methods was low, r = 0.38. Conclusion: Our study shows that multiecho Dixon technique combined with T2* relaxometry is from practical point of view the most suitable technique for simultaneous estimation of the liver steatosis and siderosis.