Transient elastography correlated with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and cholestatic complications

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The study aim to investigate the correlation between diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and transient elastography (TE) liver fibrosis findings in children with cholestatic liver diseases, and the utility of TE findings to predict cholestatic complications in children. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 36 cholestatic children (21 boys and 15 girls). All study subjects underwent TE and DW-MRI studies to assess liver stiffness. All study subjects were followed prospectively, and their cholestatic complications were analyzed. The optimum cut-off TE value for the prediction of cholestatic complications was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: A significant negative correlation between liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) and right-liver-to-psoas apparent diffusion coefficient ratios (LTPARs) was found in the study cohort (correlation coefficient = −0.52, p = 0.001). An LSM cut-off > 8.6 kPa was optimal for predicting complications of cholestasis in 6 months of this cohort (p 8.6 kPa was significantly predictive of cholestatic complications in 6 months (hazard ratio = 4.89; 95% CI = 1.41–16.97; p = 0.01). Conclusion: TE and DW-MRI findings showed a similar ability to predict liver fibrosis in cholestatic children. The LSMs measured by TE are predictive of the occurrence of cholestatic complications in 6 months in children with cholestatic liver diseases. Keywords: Liver fibrosis, Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, Transient elastography, Liver stiffness measurement