T1 RHO MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR STAGING OF HEPATIC FIBROSIS

摘要

Methods for diagnosis of fibrotic diseases, staging of fibrotic diseases and monitoring treatment of fibrosis. The presence of fibrotic tissue is detected. First, a T_1ρ relaxation time of tissue is determined using magnetic resonance imaging. The determined T_1ρ relaxation time is then compared to a baseline T_1ρ relaxation time indicative of healthy tissue, and the presence of fibrotic tissue is then determined based on results of said comparison step. To determine a stage of fibrosis, a T_1ρ relaxation time of tissue is determined and compared to one or more calibrated T_1ρ relaxation times indicative of one or more stages of fibrosis, and the stage of fibrosis is determined based on results of said comparison step. The proposed technology offers a non-invasive MRI technique based on T_1ρ contrast that is sensitive enough to detect small changes of ECM hepatic protein concentration and architecture in all stages of hepatic fibrosis.