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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Hepatic Fibrosis Diagnosis Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography and AI
Published on: July 21, 2023
Staging Chronic Hepatitis B Related Liver Fibrosis with Diffusion-weighted MRI-based Virtual Elastography:
1Department of Radiology, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Radiology, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China.
Aim:
To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based virtual magnetic resonance (MR) elastography and serum fibrosis indexes for staging liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective study included 145 patients with CHB. Virtual shear modulus (μDiff) was derived from DWI acquisition with b values of 200 and 1500/mm2. Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), S index, Fibro Q and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) were calculated. The diagnostic efficacies of μDiff and serum indexes for staging liver fibrosis were compared.
Results:
μDiff, APRI, FIB-4, S index, Fibro Q, and GPR increased as the hepatic fibrosis progressed (r=0.23-0.52, P<0.05). Areas under the curves (AUCs) of μDiff were 0.725, 0.817 and 0.764 for significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. μDiff had greater AUC over FIB-4 (0.686) and Fibro Q (0.638) for advanced fibrosis (P<0.05). The AUCs of combination of μDiff with APRI, FIB-4, S index, Fibro Q, and GPR individually were 0.779, 0.772, 0.763, 0.728, and 0.756 for significant fibrosis, 0.856, 0.842, 0.834, 0.831, and 0.834 for advanced fibrosis, 0.811, 0.818, 0.784, 0.835, and 0.788 for cirrhosis, respectively. The AUCs of the combinations were significantly higher than individual serum index for advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis (all P<0.05).
Conclusion:
DWI-based virtual MR elastography could estimate liver fibrosis stages in patients with CHB, which outperformed FIB-4 and Fibro Q for advanced fibrosis. The combination of μDiff with each serum index appears superior to individual serum index for advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis.
