Application of Diffusion Weighted Proton MRI for Evaluating Molecular Diffusion of Water and Tissue Perfusion in Diethylnitrosamine Induced Rat Liver Fibrosis

Beena George¹, Andriy Babsky¹, George E. Sandusky², Navin Bansal¹

The effect of hepatic fibrosis produced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was examined by fat and water MRI and diffusion weighted (DW) 1H MRI, separating water molecular diffusion and tissue perfusion. DEN caused an increase in liver water MRI signal intensity but no change in fat content. Fast apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), which represents perfusion, was lower in DEN treated fibrotic livers compared to control livers. Slow ADC, which represents molecular diffusion, was same in both groups. Measurement of perfusion by DW 1H MRI may be a useful marker for diagnosis of liver fibrosis.