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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Hepatic Fibrosis Diagnosis Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography and AI
Published on: July 21, 2023
Value of 3 Tesla diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for assessing liver fibrosis
Lavrentios Papalavrentios1, Emmanouil Sinakos1, Danai Chourmouzi2
14 Internal Medicine Unit, University of Thessaloniki (Lavrentios Papalavrentios, Emmanouil Sinakos, Evangelos Akriviadis), Greece.
Background:
Limited data are available regarding the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly the new generation 3 Tesla technology, and especially diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting liver fibrosis. The aim of our pilot study was to assess the clinical performance of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of liver parenchyma for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Methods:
18 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD underwent DWI with 3 Tesla MRI. DWI was performed with single-shot echo-planar technique at b values of 0-500 and 0-1000 s/mm2. ADC was measured in four locations in the liver and the mean ADC value was used for analysis. Staging of fibrosis was performed according to the METAVIR system.
Results:
The median age of patients was 52 years (range 23-73). The distribution of patients in different fibrosis stages was: 0 (n=1), 1 (n=7), 2 (n=1), 3 (n=5), 4 (n=4). Fibrosis stage was poorly associated with ADC at b value of 0-500 s/mm2 (r= -0.30, P=0.27). However it was significantly associated with ADC at b value of 0-1000 s/mm2 (r= -0.57, P=0.01). For this b value (0-1000 s/mm2) the area under receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.93 for fibrosis stage ≥3 and the optimal ADC cut-off value was 1.16 ×10-3 mm2/s.
Conclusion:
3 Tesla DWI can possibly predict the presence of advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.
Insights
3 Tesla diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) shows promise in predicting advanced liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at a b value of 0-1000 s/mm² was significantly associated with fibrosis stage.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Hepatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Limited data exist on MRI, particularly 3 Tesla DWI, for liver fibrosis prediction.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern, necessitating effective fibrosis assessment methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical performance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from 3 Tesla DWI in assessing liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.
- To determine the correlation between ADC values and liver fibrosis stages.
Main Methods:
- 18 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients underwent 3 Tesla DWI with b values of 0-500 and 0-1000 s/mm².
- Mean ADC values were calculated from four liver locations.
- Fibrosis staging was performed using the METAVIR system.
Main Results:
- Fibrosis stage showed a significant negative correlation with ADC at b=0-1000 s/mm² (r=-0.57, P=0.01).
- The area under the ROC curve for advanced fibrosis (stage ≥3) was 0.93.
- An optimal ADC cut-off of 1.16 ×10⁻³ mm²/s was identified for advanced fibrosis.
Conclusions:
- 3 Tesla DWI, specifically ADC measurements at b=0-1000 s/mm², can potentially predict advanced liver fibrosis in NAFLD.
- This technique may offer a non-invasive method for fibrosis assessment in NAFLD.
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