Semi-quantification of hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic liver disease using the multiecho two-point Dixon technique with histopathology as the reference standard

Abstract

© 2015 Hong Kong College of Radiologists. Objectives: To determine the utility of the multiecho two-point Dixon technique in the semi-quantification of hepatic fat in patients with chronic liver disease and compare these results with the histopathology outcomes. Methods: In a retrospective study, patients with chronic liver disease who underwent both magnetic resonance imaging and liver biopsy on the same day between June 2012 and May 2013 were included. The hepatic fat fraction was calculated from water and fat images and reported by their mean. Liver specimens were reviewed by a hepatopathologist blinded to the radiological data. Results: Among 21 patients with histological evaluation, steatosis was present in 15 patients and was of grade 1 in nine patients, grade 2 in four patients, and grade 3 in two patients. No hepatic steatosis (grade 0) was found in six patients. The median (range) of the hepatic fat fraction of patients with steatosis grades 0,1,2, and 3 were 2.4 (1.9-33), 6.4 (2.7-10.6), 19 (14.9-26.4), and 45.7 (20.1-71.3), respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Semi-quantification of hepatic steatosis using the multiecho two-point Dixon technique is a noninvasive method that provides reasonably accurate data about the severity of fat deposition in a range of liver diseases. The implementation of this sequence into the routine hepatic steatosis magnetic resonance imaging protocol could be of great benefit.