MRI quantification of liver fibrosis using diamagnetic susceptibility: An ex-vivo feasibility study

TL;DR

This study explores a non-invasive MRI-based method to quantify liver fibrosis by measuring diamagnetic susceptibility in ex-vivo liver samples, aiming to improve diagnosis without invasive biopsy.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel MRI technique using diamagnetic susceptibility measurements for liver fibrosis quantification validated with histology in ex-vivo samples.

Findings

Feasibility of MRI susceptibility measurements in liver tissue

Correlation between susceptibility values and fibrosis stages

Potential for non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment

Abstract

In chronic liver disease, liver fibrosis develops as excessive deposition of extracellular matrix macromolecules, predominantly collagens, progressively form fibrous scars that disrupt the hepatic architecture, and fibrosis, iron, and fat are interrelated. Fibrosis is the best predictor of morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease but liver biopsy, the reference method for diagnosis and staging, is invasive and limited by sampling and interobserver variability and risks of complications. The overall objective of this study was to develop a new non-invasive method to quantify fibrosis using diamagnetic susceptibility sources with histology validation in ex vivo liver explants.