T1-weighted dual-echo MRI accurately quantified liver fat in pediatric NAFLD, showing a mean hepatic fat fraction of 19.0% in cases versus 2.0% in controls (P<0.0001).
Case-Control (n=50)
Does T1-weighted dual-echo MRI accurately quantify liver fat concentration in obese children with NAFLD?
T1-weighted dual-echo MRI is a highly accurate, non-invasive method for quantifying liver fat in pediatric NAFLD, correlating strongly with histological grading.
Absolute Event Rate: 19% vs 2%
p-value: p=<0.0001
AIM: To determine in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing liver fat concentration. METHODS: A case-control study was performed. Cases were 25 obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Controls were 25 obese children matched for age and gender, without NAFLD at ultrasonography and with normal levels of aminotransferases and insulin. Hepatic fat fraction (HFF) by MRI was obtained using a modification of the Dixon method. RESULTS: HFF ranged from 2% to 44% mean, 19.0% (95% CI, 15.1-27.4) in children with NAFLD, while in the controls this value ranged from 0.08% to 4.69% 2.0% (1.3-2.5), P < 0.0001. HFF was highly correlated with histological steatosis (r = 0.883, P < 0.0001) in the NAFLD children. According to the histological grade of steatosis, the mean HFF was 8.7% (95% CI, 6.0-11.6) for mild, 21.6% (15.3-27.0) for moderate, and 39.7% (34.4-45.0) for severe fatty liver infiltration. With a cutoff of 4.85%, HFF had a sensitivity of 95.8% for the diagnosis of histological steatosis ≥ 5%. All control children had HFF lower than 4.85%; thus, the specificity was 100%. After 12 mo, children with weight loss displayed a significant decrease in HFF. CONCLUSION: MRI is an accurate methodology for liver fat quantification in pediatric NAFLD.
Lucia Pacifico (Sat,) conducted a case-control in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (n=50). T1-weighted dual-echo MRI vs. Controls without NAFLD was evaluated on Hepatic fat fraction (HFF) (p=<0.0001). T1-weighted dual-echo MRI accurately quantified liver fat in pediatric NAFLD, showing a mean hepatic fat fraction of 19.0% in cases versus 2.0% in controls (P<0.0001).