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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
A Three-Dimensional Digital Model for Early Diagnosis of Hepatic Fibrosis Based on Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Published on: July 21, 2023
Diagnosis and quantification of hepatic fibrosis in children with diffusion weighted MR imaging
Ahmed Abdel Khalek Abdel Razek1, Ahmed Abdalla, Eman Omran
1Diagnostic Radiology Department, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, 62 ElNokrasi Street Meet Hadr, Mansoura 3512, Egypt. arazek@mans.eun.eg
Insights
Diffusion weighted MRI accurately diagnoses and quantifies liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) shows promise for non-invasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Hepatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis in children can lead to significant liver fibrosis.
- Accurate staging of hepatic fibrosis is crucial for treatment decisions.
- Liver biopsy, the current gold standard, is invasive and carries risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for hepatic fibrosis in children.
- To evaluate DW-MRI's ability to quantify the severity of liver fibrosis.
- To correlate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with liver biopsy (METAVIR score).
Main Methods:
- Sixty-three children with chronic hepatitis and 30 healthy volunteers underwent DW-MRI of the liver.
- Liver biopsy was performed, and METAVIR fibrosis scores were calculated.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured and correlated with METAVIR scores.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in mean ADC values were observed between healthy volunteers and children with fibrosis (P=0.001).
- ADC values showed a strong correlation with METAVIR fibrosis scores (r=0.807, P=0.001).
- A cutoff ADC value of 1.7×10⁻³ mm²/s demonstrated 83% accuracy in predicting fibrosis, with high sensitivity and specificity.
Conclusions:
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from DW-MRI is a reliable, non-invasive parameter for diagnosing and quantifying hepatic fibrosis in children.
- DW-MRI offers a promising alternative to liver biopsy for assessing fibrosis severity in pediatric chronic hepatitis.
Purpose:
To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion weighted MR imaging in diagnosis and quantification of hepatic fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis.
Materials And Methods:
Sixty-three consecutive children (40 boys, 23 girls, median age 9.3 years), with chronic hepatitis and thirty age matched volunteers underwent diffusion weighted MR imaging of the liver using a single shot echoplanar imaging with b-value=0, 250, and 500s/mm(2). Liver biopsy was obtained with calculation of METAVIR score. The ADC value of the liver was correlated with METAVIR score. Receiver operating characteristic curve was done for diagnosis and grading of hepatic fibrosis.
Results:
There was statistical difference in the mean ADC value between volunteers and patients with hepatic fibrosis (P=0.001) and in patients with different grades of METAVIR scores (P=0.002). There was correlation between the mean ADC value and METAVIR score (r=0.807, P=0.001). The cut off point to predict fibrosis (1.7×10(-3)mm(2)/s) revealed 83% accuracy, 85% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 83% PPV, and 85% NPV. The area under the curve was 0.91 for F1, 0.85 for F2, 0.86 for F3 and 0.90 for F4.
Conclusion:
The apparent diffusion coefficient value is a promising quantitative parameter used for diagnosis and quantification of hepatic fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis.
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