Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR:a Potential Utility For The Evaluation Of Regional Liver Function Impairment After Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

Objective:To determine the potential of using Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for evaluating regipnal liver function impairment after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) therapy.Methods:Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging was performed3-5days and follow-up1-2months after TACE therapy. The signal to noise ratio(SNR) was calculated in both healthy liver tissue region and peritumoral region(surrounded within3cm) before and20min after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. The correlations between clinical factors and SNRs were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient or Spearman rank correlation coefficient.Results:Before Gd-EOB-DTPA administration, the SNR value showed no significant difference(t=1.341, P=0.191)in healthy liver tissue region comparing to the peritumoral region. After20min Gd-EOB-DTPA administration, the SNR value in healthy liver tissue region was significantly higher(t=3.732, P<0.001) than that of in peritumoral region. One to two months after TACE therapy, the SNR value showed no significant difference in both peritumoral region and healthy liver tissue region on unenhanced MR scan (t=0.189, P=0.852). After20min Gd-EOB-DTPA injection, the SNR value in peritumoral region and healthy liver tissue region also showed no significant difference(t=1.535, P=0.136). The relative SNR in peritumoral region did only correlate to the quantity of iodized oil used(r=0.528, P=0.003). Neither patients’ age, gender, diameter and blood supply of the tumor nor Child-Pugh Class, correlated with relative SNR.Conclusion:Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR may be an effective way to evaluate the regional liver function impairment after TACE therapy.