Liver Lobe Based Multi-Echo Gradient Recalled Echo T(2)*-Weighted Imaging in Chronic Hepatitis B-Related Cirrhosis: Association with the Presence and Child-Pugh Class of Cirrhosis

PURPOSE: To investigate whether liver lobe based T(2)* values measured on gradient recalled echo T(2)*-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 T(2)*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. T(2)* values of the left lateral lobe (LLL), left medial lobe (LML), right lobe (RL) and caudate lobe (CL) were measured on T(2)*-weighted imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between liver lobe based T(2)* values and the presence and Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis. RESULTS: The T(2)* 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 T(2)* values of the LLL, LML and RL could distinguish cirrhotic liver from healthy liver (all P < 0.05), whereas the T(2)* values of the CL could not (P > 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the T(2)* 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 T(2)* values of the liver lobes, and that only the T(2)* 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 T(2)* value of the RL can be associated with the presence and Child-Pugh class of hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.