J Korean Soc Radiol.  2017 Jan;76(1):14-24. 10.3348/jksr.2017.76.1.14.

Comparative Study of Ultrasonography, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for the Diagnosis of Fatty Liver in a Rat Model

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea. hkkang@jnu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 3Department of Anatomy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the accuracy of ultrasonography (US), single-energy CT (SECT), dual-energy CT (DECT), MR imaging (MRI), and MR spectroscopy (MRS) for detecting fatty liver in a rat model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fatty liver was induced by 60% high-fat diet for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weeks (3 rats per group, a total of 15 rats). The control group comprised of five rats fed 10% high-fat diet. US, SECT, DECT, MRI, and MRS of the liver were performed weekly. Histologic steatosis grade and intrahepatocelluar triglyceride level were determined histologically for the livers of sacrificed rats. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the correlation between examinations and standard reference levels. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated.
RESULTS
US, SECT, DECT, MRI, and MRS were significantly correlated with histologic steatosis grade. The diagnostic performance of AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.893, 80%, and 80% for US, 0.960, 80%, and 80% for SECT, 0.947, 100%, and 60% for DECT, 0.933, 93.3%, and 100% for MRI, and 0.960, 93.3%, and 100% for MRS.
CONCLUSION
MRS showed the strongest correlation with histologic steatosis grade with the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of fatty liver compared to other modalities.


MeSH Terms

Animals
Area Under Curve
Diagnosis*
Diet, High-Fat
Fatty Liver*
Liver
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
Models, Animal*
Rats*
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spectrum Analysis
Triglycerides
Ultrasonography*

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Scatterplots and regression lines showing correlations between histopathologic results (percentage steatosis) or intra-hepatocellular TG with the degree of fatty liver at US (A), SECT (B), DECT (C), MRI (D), and MRS (E). DECT = dual-energy computed tomography, HUD = the difference between Hounsfield units of 140 kVp and 80 kVp, HUS = difference in Hounsfield units between the liver and spleen, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, MRS = magnetic resonance spectroscopy, SECT = single-energy computed tomography, US = ultrasonography

  • Fig. 2 Transverse single energy computed tomographic image at 120 kVp of a rat showing the gate of the liver and the mean position of the region of interest at liver and spleen.

  • Fig. 3 Typical histologic slides of liver section from 60% high-fat diet of the rats for three weeks with approximately 30% steatosis. The fat content of the drop-shaped observation showed no signs of inflammation or fibrosis findings (hematoxylin-eosin stain, × 400).


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