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MRI accurate in diagnosing primary biliary cirrhosis, liver fibrosis

An MRI was effective in measuring primary biliary cirrhosis, or PBC, in Chinese adults, according to study data.

“MRI is a noninvasive diagnostic tool, and early detection and diagnosis of PBC using MRI may play an important role in developing a treatment plan, monitoring the severity and progression of the disease and assessing patient prognosis,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers analyzed data from 45 patients enrolled at Beijing Friendship Hospital or Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, China, and who underwent MRI between 2009 and 2013. Of these patients, 38 were women and seven were men (mean age, 51.3 ± 9.7 years), and 33 patients also had undergone liver biopsy.

Twenty-five patients showed signs of periportal hyperintensity, eight patients showed stage I and stage II homogeneous liver signal intensity, and 25 patients had non-homogeneous liver signal changes, based on MRI. A positive correlation was observed between histological stage and the non-homogeneity of liver signal intensity (P < .001), according to the research.

All four histological stages were different based on the periportal halo sign (P = .034) and periportal halo sign was found to be positively correlated with histological stage (P < .001). No differences were seen among the four histological stages and occurrence and size of enlarged lymph nodes.

“MRI reliably detects general signs of PBC, such as hepatomegaly, slenomegaly, widened portal vein diameter, portosystemic collaterals and ascites,” the researchers concluded. “MRI is a valuable method in the diagnosis of PBC, and the degree of periportal halo sign and liver signal intensity help to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.