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Cirrhosis: Multiobserver analysis of hepatic MR imaging findings in a heterogeneous population
Author(s) -
Mitchell Donald G.,
Lovett Karen E.,
Hann HieWon L.,
Ehrlich Saundra,
Palazzo Juan,
Rubin Raphael
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.1880030204
Subject(s) - cirrhosis , medicine , radiology , population , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear medicine , environmental health
To investigate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of hepatic cirrhosis and the potential of MR imaging in differentiating cirrhosis from other hepatic abnormalities, three observers with different levels of expertise in MR imaging (specialist, experienced radiologist, and novice with special training) reviewed hepatic MR imaging examinations of 52 patients with biopsy‐proved presence (n = 29) or absence (n = 23) of cirrhosis. All examinations included motion‐compensated T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted, and flow‐sensitive gradientecho images. For all three observers, linear signal irregularity was more accurate than other findings. For the final diagnosis of cirrhosis, the specialist was most sensitive (76% at high threshold, 97% at low threshold), followed by the novice with special training (31% and 79%, respectively). Specificity was 100% for all observers at high threshold and 78%, 96%, and 87% for expert, experienced, and trained novice observers, respectively, at low threshold. Sensitivity did not vary regardless of severity of fibrosis, as determined independently by a hepatopathologist. MR imaging has the potential of offering a comprehensive noninvasive evaluation of patients with suspected cirrhosis, but considerable expertise is required at present.