Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging of the liver: the effect on hepatic fat quantification in hepatobiliary phase using mDXION-Quant

This study evaluated the effect of Gd-EOB-DTPA on fat quantification using a multiecho reconstruction technique with T2* correction. Forty-six patients with suspected hepatic tumors underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR imaging and single breath hold 3D mDIXON-Quant for hepatic fat quantification before and 20 minutes after the administration of Gd-EOB-DTPA. Fat fraction (FF) and R2* of the liver parenchyma, spleen parenchyma and vertebral body were measured and compared between pre- and post-contrast. FF measurements of liver, spleen, vertebral body and R2* measurements of liver, spleen revealed no significant difference between the two measurements, and R2* increased in liver and vertebral body significantly after 20 minutes of Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. In addition, good agreement of FF measurement was seen in the Bland-Altman plots. We conclude mDXION-Quant can obtain stable fat quantification in the hepatobiliary phase, without the impact of an increased R2* in liver parenchyma. But R2* maps should be obtained prior to Gd-EOB-DTPA administration.