Diffusion weighted MRI and transient elastography assessment of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients: Validity of non invasive imaging techniques

Objective

Treatment for hepatitis C infection and monitoring of progression were based on degree of fibrosis, which were traditionally diagnosed by liver biopsy but it has many limitations. We aim to evaluate noninvasive imaging methods, so-called diffusion-weighted MRI (DW MRI) and transient elastography [(TE), fibroscan] in diagnosing liver fibrosis in hepatitis C (HCV) patients.

Patients

The Study included 102 hepatitis C patients (62 male) with mean age of 38 ± 5. For all patients liver biopsy was done followed by DW MRI and TE. METAVIR classification system was used for staging liver fibrosis. Data obtained were collected and results of DW MRI and TE were compared with those of histopathology. The diagnostic performance of ADC and TE was determined using areas under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves for significant fibrosis ?F3.

Results

Measuring ADC at different b-values had a significant negative correlation with stage of fibrosis P = 0.001, the best negative correlation at b-value of 700 mm²/s. TE had a significant positive correlation with stage of fibrosis P = 0.005. Both examination showed a significant difference between fibrosis stage P < 0.00 for ADC measure at each b-value and TE respectively.

Conclusion

This study suggests that DW MRI and TE had favorable comparable results with liver biopsy for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis.