Zielsetzung
T2DM can be associated with fibrotic liver changes that can be quantified with MRE. In this study, we compared five common MRE sequences in patients with T2DM.
Material und Methoden
We compared 70 MRE measurements in patients with T2DM who had received the following sequences respectively: gradient-echo (GRE), rapid GRE, fractional GRE, spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SE-EPI) and fractional SE-EPI.
Liver stiffness in kilopascal [kPa], the area with a minimum of 95%-confidence [cm²] and the standard deviation [sd] of liver stiffness were analysed.
Ergebnisse
Using the Friedman-Test (level of significance: α=0,05), there were no significant differences among the average liver stiffness values in kPa and their sd (SE-EPI: 2,4±0,7; fractional SE-EPI: 2,4±0,7; rapid GRE: 2,5±1,7; fractional GRE: 2,7±0,6; GRE: 2,5±0,5). At the same time, the area with a minimum of 95%-confidence showed statistically significant differences (p<0,001).
The Wilcoxon-Test comparing the measurable areas for each combination of the sequences demonstrated significant differences with p<0,05 respectively except for fractional SE-SPI vs. fractional GRE and rapid GRE vs. GRE.
The comparison of the means revealed the largest area for SE-EPI (70,8cm²), followed by fractional SE-EPI (54,9cm²), fractional GRE (37,8cm²), rapid GRE (29,3cm²) and GRE (24,3cm²) respectively.
Schlussfolgerungen
We suggest the application of SE-EPI sequence for clinical practice because it showed the largest evaluable area.
Measurements of patients with T2DM in our study showed on average a normal liver stiffness (<2,5kPa in the sequences SE-EPI and fractional SE-EPI) or a slightly elevated liver stiffness (2,5–2,7kPa in the sequences rapid GRE, fractional GRE and GRE). The patients with an elevated liver stiffness could benefit from early diagnosis and MRE is an excellent tool for that.