Ces radiol. 2020, 74(3):211-221 | DOI: 10.55095/CesRadiol2020/032

Determination of liver steatosis by MR spectroscopic methods PRESS, STEAM and HISTOOriginal article

Milan Hájek¹, Monika Dezortová¹, Martin Burian¹, Tereza Dusilová¹, Jan Kovář², Pavel Trunečka³, Petr Šedivý¹

¹ Oddělení klinické a experimentální MR spektroskopie, Pracoviště radiodiagnostiky a intervenční radiologie (ZRIR) IKEM, Praha

² Centrum experimentální medicíny IKEM, Praha

³ Klinika hepatogastroenterologie IKEM, Praha

Aim: To compare MR spectroscopic methods for steatosis determination by PRESS, STEAM and HISTO sequences on 3T TRIO and VIDA tomographs.

Method: 1H MR spectra of the liver of volunteers were measured on 3T tomographs Siemens TRIO and VIDA (45/25 subjects). The sequences PRESS with TE = 30/33 ms, STEAM with TE = 20/33 ms and the HISTO method with TE = 12-72 ms were used. The same sequences were used to determine T2 of lipids and water. The spectra were processed using the LCModel method. Fractional (FF) and volume (HFC) fractions (%) were corrected for individual and mean T2 values. Correlation, regression and Bland-Altman data analyses were performed.

Results: Relaxation times T2 reduce FF and HFC values by up to approx. 47%. Regression analysis and Bland-Altman graphs show that the parameters obtained by PRESS, STEAM and HISTO techniques with short TE are comparable on VIDA. Mean T2 values of lipids between 45 and 53 ms and T2 of water between 24 and 31 ms were measured. HISTO FF cut-off values for the degree of steatosis in transplant patients were set in the following ranges: S0: < 0.8%; S1: 0.81-6.2%; S2: 6.21-16.5%; S3: > 16.5%.

Conclusion: The obtained FF and HFC values are sensitive to T2 corrections. Bland-Altman's graphs indicate good agreement among STEAM, PRESS and HISTO methods. Limit values for the steatosis degree in transplant patients from the result of the HISTO method agree with literature values.

Keywords: HISTO, liver, MR spectroscopy, PRESS, STEAM, steatosis

Grants and funding:

Studie byla provedena s podporou projektů Ministerstva zdravotnictví ČR s reg. č. AZV 16-28427A, AZV 15-26906A a RVO (Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny - IKEM, IČ 00023001).

Accepted: August 1, 2020; Published: September 1, 2020  Show citation