Validation of functional liver imaging scores derived on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and Aim: To investigate the correlation of the functional liver imaging scores (FLIS) and the scoring system in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Materials and Methods: Between April 2015 and December 2022, the HCC patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI were analyzed. Three parameters on hepatobiliary phase images were evaluated for FLIS: liver parenchymal enhancement, biliary excretion, and signal intensity of the portal vein. The correlation between Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification, the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and Fibrosis-4 (F-4) score, and FLIS were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to demonstrate the cut-off value of FLIS for differentiating between CTP classification and ALBI grade. Results: We retrospectively analyzed 178 HCC patients (144 men, 34 women; mean age, 65.9 years). A moderate negative correlation was present between CTP classification and ALBI grade, and FLIS (r=-0.596 and r=-0.513, respectively). FLIS ≤3 was determined as the most optimal criterion for differentiating CTP A or B patients from CTP C patients. Conclusion: This study showed that the FLIS is a simple, non-invasive imaging marker for the assessment of liver function in HCC patients.
Author: Duygu Ozgul
Institution: Cukurova University
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4404724453