Multicompartmental restriction spectrum imaging model for characterizing liver fibrosis in a mouse model

Liver fibrosis is a serious medical issue and noninvasive technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is required to identify and quantify liver fibrosis. Recently, several advanced diffusion MRI signal models that employ additional parameters to describe diffusion signals from complex microstructural compartments have been developed. The purpose of this study was to apply the multicompartmental restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) model to evaluate carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. The optimal model to characterize liver fibrosis was the 4-compartment RSI model. Compared to control groups, mice with liver fibrosis exhibited significantly lower ADC and C3, but higher C1.