Quantification of superparamagnetic iron oxide-mediated signal intensity change in patients with liver cirrhosis using T2 and T2* mapping: A preliminary report

Purpose: To quantify the accumulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in patients with and without liver cirrhosis using T2 and T2* mapping. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 10 patients without liver cirrhosis and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A, n = 18; and B/C, n = 12). T2 and T2* mapping were performed before and after SPIO administration. The reductions in T2 (ΔT2) and T2* (ΔT2*) after SPIO administration were compared between the control and liver cirrhosis groups and the control, Child-Pugh A, and Child Pugh B/C groups. Results: There were significant differences in ΔT2 (22.2 ± 4.4 and 15.1 ± 7.0) and ΔT2* values (24.3 ± 3.3 and 16.8 ± 8.1) (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001) between the control and the liver cirrhosis groups. There was a significant difference in the ΔT2* between the Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh B/C groups (P < 0.001) and in the ΔT2 and ΔT2* between the control and Child-Pugh B/C groups (P = 0.018 and P < 0.001). Conclusion: ΔT2 and ΔT2* are significantly larger in patients without liver cirrhosis than those with liver cirrhosis. ΔT2* is also significantly larger in Child-Pugh class A patients than those in Child-Pugh B/C.