Stability of liver proton density fat fraction and changes in R2* measurements induced by administering gadoxetic acid at 3T MRI

Objective: To assess changes in liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and R-2* measurements in the presence of changes in tissue relaxation rates induced by administrating gadoxetic acid, using two different image reconstruction methods at 3T MRI. Methods: Forty-five patients were imaged at 3T with chemical-shift-based MRI sequences before and 20 min after administration of gadoxetic acid. Image reconstructions were performed using hybrid and complex methods to obtain PDFF and R-2* images. A single radiologist measured PDFF and R-2* values on precontrast and postcontrast images. Precontrast and postcontrast PDFF values were compared using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression, and Bland-Altman analysis. Changes in R-2* values from precontrast to postcontrast were correlated with relative liver enhancement (RLE) based on signal intensities on T-1-weighted images using Spearman's rank correlation. Results: PDFF values were similar between precontrast and postcontrast images (ICC = 0.99, linear regression slopes = 0.98, mean difference = -0.21 to -0.31%). PDFF measurements were stable between precontrast and postcontrast images. Changes in R-2* values were correlated with RLE (p < 0.001, r = 0.49-0.71). Conclusions: PDFF measurements from both image reconstruction methods are stable in the presence of changes in tissue relaxation rates after administering gadoxetic acid at 3T MRI. Changes in R-2* values correlate with established measures of gadoxetic acid uptake based on T-1-weighted images