Development of novel quantitative MRI techniques to evaluate liver function, liver fibrosis and liver necroinflammation

• Project/Area Number: 17K10407
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Takayama Yukihisa 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (60546563)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西江 昭弘 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (20457427) ; 浅山 良樹 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (40380414) ; 石神 康生 九州大学, 大学病院, 講師 (10403916) ; 牛島 泰宏 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (40432934) ; 藤田 展宏 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (30610612) ; 本田 浩 九州大学, 大学病院, 教授 (90145433)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: MRI / 肝線維化 / 肝炎症壊死 / 肝機能 / 肝壊死炎症 / 定量的評価 / 肝細胞機能 / T1ρ / T2 / 肝臓

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our study showed that T1ρ and T2 values were non-invasive and quantitatively evaluatable diagnostic imaging methods for the assessment of liver function, necro-inflammation, and fibrosis. In our study using the evaluation of 83 cases, average T1ρ values (ms) of liver parenchyma in each F stage were; F0,51.2; F1,52.0; F2, 52.5; F3,61.9; F4, 62.8, respectively. The average T2 value (ms) of liver parenchyma in each F stage were; F0,37.2, F1,37.0; F2,37.9; F3,39.9; F4, 43.3, respectively. As the progression of F stage, the T1 and T2 value also increased significantly. The diagnostic ability of the F stage using the ROC curve revealed that T1ρ and T2 values were clinically usefulness diagnostic tools. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

MRIは侵襲が少ない画像診断法である。本研究成果により、従来は肝生検後や肝切除手術後に病理組織学的検査を行わなければ判明しなかった肝線維化や肝壊死炎症を、非侵襲的に評価することが可能であると判明した。また、肝機能検査は、採血検査や核医学検査を用いて評価するが、全肝の評価しか不可能である。本研究も現時点では全肝の評価であるが、切除手術を前提とした区域や領域毎の肝機能評価への応用が可能であると考えられる。肝腫瘍の評価のみならず、肝線維化、肝壊死炎症、肝機能を一度のMRI検査にて評価できる可能性を見出した。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] T1ρ mapping improvement using stretched-type adiabatic locking pulses for assessment of human liver function at 3T. (2017)
  • Author(s): Okuaki T, Takayama Y, Nishie A, et al.
  • Journal Title: Magn Reson Imaging Volume: 40 Pages: 17-23
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2017.03.006
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Prediction of Liver Fibrosis using T1ρ and T2 Relaxations (2019)
  • Author(s): Yukihisa Takayama
  • Organizer: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 105th Scientific Assembly.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] T1ρとT2マップを用いた肝障害度、壊死炎症、線維化の評価 (2019)
  • Author(s): 高山 幸久他
  • Organizer: 第25回肝血流動態・機能イメージ研究会