Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease severity

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis staging are central to non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease assessment. We evaluated multiparametric magnetic resonance in the assessment of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis using histology as standard in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: Seventy‐one patients with suspected non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease were recruited within 1 month of liver biopsy. Magnetic resonance data were used to define the liver inflammation and fibrosis score (LIF 0‐4). Biopsies were assessed for steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning and fibrosis and classified as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis or simple steatosis, and mild or significant (Activity ≥2 and/or Fibrosis ≥2 as defined by the Fatty Liver Inhibition of Progression consortium) non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Transient elastography was also performed. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance success rate was 95% vs 59% for transient elastography (P<.0001). Fibrosis stage on biopsy correlated with liver inflammation and fibrosis (r (s)=.51, P<.0001). The area under the receiver operating curve using liver inflammation and fibrosis for the diagnosis of cirrhosis was 0.85. Liver inflammation and fibrosis score for ballooning grades 0, 1 and 2 was 1.2, 2.7 and 3.5 respectively (P<.05) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.83 for the diagnosis of ballooning. Patients with steatosis had lower liver inflammation and fibrosis (1.3) compared to patients with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (3.0) (P<.0001); area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis was 0.80. Liver inflammation and fibrosis scores for patients with mild and significant non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease were 1.2 and 2.9 respectively (P<.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of liver inflammation and fibrosis for the diagnosis of significant non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was 0.89. CONCLUSIONS: Multiparametric magnetic resonance is a promising technique with good diagnostic accuracy for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease histological parameters, and can potentially identify patients with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.