Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI quantitative parameters for evaluation of liver fibrosis in children with congenital choledochal cyst / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) quantitative parameters for evaluation of liver fibrosis caused by pediatric congenital choledochal cyst (CCC). Methods: Totally 33 CCC children with liver fibrosis were included into case group, while 14 children were selected as control group. All children underwent liver DCE-MRI. Quantitative parameters were acquired with Tofts model,including volume transfer constant from blood plasma to extravascular extracellular space (Ktrans), transfer rate constant between extravascular extracellular space and blood plasma (Kep) and volume of extravascular extracellular space (Ve). The differences and correlations of the above parameters among different liver fibrosis stages were analyzed, and AUC of each parameter in diagnosing different grades of liver fibrosis were drawn. Results: Ktrans and Kep were significantly different among fibrosis subgroups (all P0.05) and negative correlation with liver fibrosis staging (r=-0.249, P>0.05). AUC for identifying normal vs fibrosis and mild vs advanced fibrosis by Ktrans and Kep were 0.949, 0.748 and 0.933, 0.731, and the cutoff values were 0.239,.0.186 and 1.814, 1.663, respectively. Conclusion: DCE-MRI perfusion parameters such as Ktrans and Kep are valuable for diagnosing and staging of liver fibrosis caused by CCC in children.