Distinction between non-advanced and advanced liver fibrosis: Comparison between MR DCE imaging and T2-corrected IVIM at 3.0T

Our objective was to evaluate T2-corrected IVIM and perfusion imaging using a MR-DCE technique for the distinction between non-advanced and advanced fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases. The link between perfusion-related diffusion given by IVIM and quantitative perfusion parameters given by MR-DCE imaging was investigated. Results indicated that the combination of IVIM and MR-DCE imaging do not bring additional information for fibrosis assessment in a large spectra of etiologies. Indeed, perfusion parameters given by MR-DCE imaging alone are relevant to evaluate fibrosis severity. Strong correlation between portal perfusion and perfusion related diffusion coefficient illustrated that IVIM reflects the hemodynamic changes occurring in fibrous damage. Pure molecular diffusion coefficient was affected by the deposition of extracellular matrix components and by fat vesicle suggesting that fat overload can constitute a confounding factor in fibrosis assessment with IVIM. Nevertheless, if fat overload is addressed, IVIM could be a useful injection-free method to distinguish between non-advanced and advanced fibrosis.