Validation of functional liver imaging scores derived on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in hepatocellular carcinoma patients


Özesen D. Ö., PISKIN F. C., SÖZÜTOK S., ballı h. t.

Hepatology forum, cilt.6, sa.2, ss.41-46, 2025 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 6 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.14744/hf.2023.2023.0024
  • Dergi Adı: Hepatology forum
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.41-46
  • Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background and Aim: To investigate the correlation of the functional liver imaging scores (FLIS) and the scoring system in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Materials and Methods: Between April 2015 and December 2022, the HCC patients who underwent gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI were ana- lyzed. Three parameters on hepatobiliary phase images were evaluated for FLIS: liver parenchymal enhancement, biliary excretion, and signal inten- sity of the portal vein. The correlation between Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification, the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and Fibrosis-4 (F-4) score, and FLIS were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to demonstrate the cut-off value of FLIS for differ- entiating between CTP classification and ALBI grade. Results: We retrospectively analyzed 178 HCC patients (144 men, 34 women; mean age, 65.9 years). A moderate negative correlation was present between CTP classification and ALBI grade, and FLIS (r=-0.596 and r=- 0.513, respectively). FLIS ≤3 was determined as the most optimal criterion for differentiating CTP A or B patients from CTP C patients. Conclusion: This study showed that the FLIS is a simple, non-invasive imaging marker for the assessment of liver function in HCC patients.