Comparison between Gradient-Echo and Spin-Echo EPI MR Elastography at 3 T in quantifying liver stiffness of patients with and without iron overload; a prospective study

Bita Hazhirkarzar, Qingxia Wu, Hao Tang, Azarakhsh Baghdadi, Mina Motaghi, Roya Rezvani Habibabadi, Mohammadreza Shaghaghi, Maryam Ghadimi, Ali Borhani, Alireza Mohseni, Li Pan, Bradley D. BolsterJr, Ihab R. Kamel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the maximum axial area of the confidence mask and the calculated liver stiffness (LS) on gradient-echo (GRE) and spin-echo echo planar imaging (SE-EPI) MR elastography (MRE) in patients with and without iron deposition. Methods: 104 patients underwent MRE by GRE and SE-EPI sequences at 3 T. R2* values >88 Hz in the liver were categorized in the iron overload group. The maximum axial area and the corresponding LS values were measured by manually contouring the whole area on one slice with the largest confidence mask at both GRE and SE-EPI sequences. Results: In patients with iron overload, SE-EPI provided larger maximum axial confidence area in unfailed images (57.6 ± 41.7 cm2) compared to GRE (45.7 ± 29.1 cm2) (p-value = 0.007). In five patients with iron overload, imaging failed at GRE sequence, whereas at the SE-EPI sequence the maximum area of the confidence mask had a mean value of 33.5 ± 54.9 cm2. In livers without iron overload (R2*: 50.7 ± 13.1 Hz), the maximum area on the confidence mask was larger at SE-EPI (118.3 ± 41.2 cm2) than on GRE (105.1 ± 31.7 cm2) (P-value = 0.003). There was no significant difference in mean LS between SE-EPI (2.0 ± 0.3 kPa) and GRE (2.1 ± 0.5 kPa) in livers with iron overload (P value = 0.24). Similarly, in the group without iron overload, mean LS was 2.3 ± 0.7 kPa at SE-EPI and 2.4 ± 0.8 kPa at GRE sequences (P-value = 0.11). Conclusions: SE-EPI MRE can successfully provide similar LS measurements as GRE MRE. Furthermore, it provides a larger measurable area on the confidence mask in both groups with and without iron overload.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)42-47
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Imaging
Volume100
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Elastography
  • Hepatic fibrosis
  • Liver stiffness value
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Non-invasive

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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