Multiparametric ultrasound imaging for early‐stage steatosis: Comparison with magnetic resonance imaging‐based proton density fat fraction

• DOI: 10.1002/mp.16648
• Publication Date: 2023-07-28T12:20:13Z
• Authors: Jihye Baek; Lokesh Basavarajappa; Ryan Margolis; Leroy Arthur; Junjie Li; Kenneth Hoyt; Kevin J. Parker
• Keywords: Steatosis; Histology; Magnetic Resonance Elastography; Gold standard (test)

Abstract Background The prevalence of liver diseases, especially steatosis, requires a more convenient and noninvasive tool for diagnosis, which can be surrogate the gold standard biopsy. Magnetic resonance (MR) measurement offers potential, however ultrasound (US) has better accessibility than MR. Purpose This study aims to suggest multiparametric US approach demonstrates quantification imaging performance MR imaging‐based proton density fat fraction (MRI‐PDFF) hepatic steatosis assessment. Methods We investigated early‐stage evaluate our approach. An in vivo (within living) animal was performed. Fat inclusions were accumulated livers by feeding methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet 2 weeks. animals ( n = 19) underwent imaging, then their excised histological staining. From US, MR, histology images, accumulation levels measured compared: multiple parameters; MRI‐PDFF; percentages. Seven individual parameters extracted using B‐mode measurement, Burr distribution estimation, attenuation H‐scan analysis, shear wave elastography. Feature selection performed, selected features combined, providing accumulation. combined parameter used visualizing localized probability level liver; procedure is known as disease‐specific (DSI). Results sensitively assess levels, highly correlated with percentage R 0.93, p ‐value < 0.05) outperforms correlation between MRI‐PDFF 0.89, 0.05). Although seven showed lower compared MRI‐PDFF, analysis enabled outperform Furthermore, this allowed DSI detect display gradual increases output, we color‐highlighted area representing fatty tissues, obtained from strong agreement Conclusions demonstrated that utilizing combination achieved higher therefore, successfully characterization. anticipate clinical use proposed could beneficial assessing humans.