Associations between histologic features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and quantitative diffusion-weighted MRI measurements in adults.

PURPOSE

To investigate in adults the associations between histologic features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and quantitative measures derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-nine adults undergoing standard-of-care liver biopsy for NAFLD were recruited for DWI. Biopsies were scored for histologic features of NAFLD. DWI was performed using b-values of 0, 100, and 500 s/mm(2) . Images were reconstructed using either conventional magnitude averaging (CMA) or a method to address bulk motion artifacts (Beta*LogNormal, BLN). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the diffusivity (D) and perfusion fraction (F) of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model were measured in the right hepatic lobe using both reconstructions. Associations between histologic features and DWI-derived measures were tested statistically with several methods including multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Using CMA and BLN reconstructions, respectively, the means (and ranges) were 1.7 (1.1-3.5) and 1.4 (1.0-3.2) × 10(-3) mm(2) /s for ADC, 1.1 (0.84-1.4) and 0.84 (0.53-1.1) × 10(-3) mm(2) /s for D, and 17 and 18 (2.3-35)% for F. For both reconstruction methods, D decreased with steatosis and F decreased with fibrosis (P < 0.05). ADC was not independently associated with any histologic feature.

CONCLUSION

Steatosis and fibrosis have significant independent effects on D and F in adults undergoing biopsy for NAFLD.