Association of liver function with hepatic and renal parenchymal signal intensities during the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI

Purpose To investigate the association between hepatic function and liver and renal parenchymal signal intensities (SI) during the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to provide imaging evidence for the combined evaluation of hepatic and renal function in cirrhotic patients. Material and methods Seventy-eight patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively enrolled and divided into a normal control group (n = 28), Child-Pugh grade A group (n = 25), grade B group (n = 17), and grade C group (n = 8). Pre-enhancement SI of the liver and renal cortex/medulla (SIliver-pre, SIcortex-pre, SImedulla-pre) and post-enhancement SI (SIliver-post, SIcortex-post, SImedulla-post) were measured. The signal intensity differences between the renal cortex and medulla (SI[cortex-medulla]pre and SI[cortex-medulla]post) were calculated. Relative enhancement rates (RE) were calculated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare signal intensity parameters among the normal liver function group and different Child-Pugh grade groups (A, B, C). Results As the Child-Pugh grade increased, SIliver-pre, SIliver-post, and REliver showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). SIcortex-pre and SIcortex-post exhibited significant differences in subgroup comparisons (p < 0.05), but REcortex showed no statistical significance (p = 0.859). Pre- and post-enhancement renal medullary signals and SI[cortex-medulla] differences showed no significant variations across all groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Hepatic dysfunction was associated with lower hepatic signal intensity and enhancement in the hepatobiliary phase. Significant differences were observed in the renal cortical signal intensity before and after contrast administration, whereas the renal medullary signals and corticomedullary signal differences showed no significant variation.