Assessing liver function in patients with HBV-related HCC: a comparison of T₁ mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging with DWI

To compare the potential of T₁ mapping on gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for assessing liver function in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred consecutive patients with known HBV-related HCCs were included. T₁ relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the liver were measured, and the reduction rate of T₁ relaxation time (∇%) was calculated. T₁ relaxation time measurements were compared with ADC values according to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and ∇% of T₁ relaxation time measurements showed significant correlations with MELD score (rho = 0.571, p < 0.0001; rho = -0.573, p < 0.0001, respectively). HBP and ∇% of T₁ relaxation time were significantly different between good (MELD ≤8) and poor liver function (MELD ≥9) (p < 0.0001 for both). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of T₁ relaxation time for HBP (AUC 0.84) and ∇% (AUC 0.82) were significantly better than for ADC (AUC 0.53; p < 0.0001). T₁ mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI showed promise for evaluating liver function in patients with HBV-related HCC, while DWI was not reliable. HBP T₁ relaxation time measurement was equally accurate as ∇% measurement. (orig.)