Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Novel In Vivo Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging Techniques for Assessing the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Published on: March 24, 2023
Liver dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for staging liver fibrosis in a piglet model
Li Zhou1, Tian-wu Chen, Xiao-ming Zhang
1Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, and Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Sichuan, China.
Purpose:
To determine whether dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) could monitor progression of liver fibrosis in a piglet model, and which DCE-MRI parameter is most accurate for staging this disease.
Materials And Methods:
Sixteen piglets were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis and underwent liver DCE-MRI followed by biopsy on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekends after modeling of fibrosis. Time of peak (TOP), time to peak (TTP), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) were measured and statistically analyzed for the monitoring and staging.
Results:
As fibrosis progresses, TOP and TTP tended to increase, whereas MSI, MSD, and PEI tended to decrease (all P < 0.05). TOP, TTP, and MSI could discriminate fibrosis stage 0 from 1-4, 0-1 from 2-4, 0-2 from 3-4, and 0-3 from 4; PEI could distinguish the above-mentioned stages except 0-3 from 4; and MSD could distinguish stage 0-3 from 4, and 0 from 1-4 (all P < 0.05). For predicting stage ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MSI was largest among all parameters; for stage 4 AUC of TTP was largest.
Conclusion:
DCE-MRI has the potential to dynamically stage progression of liver fibrosis.
Insights
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) can monitor liver fibrosis progression in piglets. Parameters like maximum slope of increase (MSI) and time to peak (TTP) show potential for accurate disease staging.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging
- Hepatology
- Fibrosis research
Background:
- Liver fibrosis is a significant health concern.
- Accurate staging of liver fibrosis is crucial for patient management.
- Non-invasive monitoring methods are needed to track fibrosis progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) for monitoring liver fibrosis progression.
- To identify the most accurate DCE-MRI parameter for staging liver fibrosis in a piglet model.
Main Methods:
- A piglet model of liver fibrosis was established.
- Liver DCE-MRI was performed at multiple time points post-fibrosis induction.
- Key DCE-MRI parameters including time of peak (TOP), time to peak (TTP), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) were measured and analyzed.
Main Results:
- As fibrosis advanced, TOP and TTP increased, while MSI, MSD, and PEI decreased (P < 0.05).
- MSI, TTP, and TOP demonstrated significant ability to discriminate between fibrosis stages.
- MSI showed the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting stages ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3, while TTP was largest for stage 4.
Conclusions:
- DCE-MRI shows promise as a non-invasive tool for dynamically staging liver fibrosis progression.
- Specific DCE-MRI parameters, particularly MSI and TTP, are valuable for assessing fibrosis severity.
