Preliminary study of MR diffusion weighted imaging in evaluating the degree of liver cirrhosis

Objective: To investigate the value of MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: Ninety-five cases (35 healthy volunteers and 60 patients with liver cirrhosis) were recruited with their apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of liver analyzed. According to liver Child-Pugh classification, 60 patients with liver cirrhosis were classified into group AB (28 cases) and group C (32 cases) with their ADC measured and compared intra-group and with that of the volunteers. Results: The ADC values of the control group, group AB and group C were (1.28±0.14)×10-3 mm2/s, (1.18±0.17)×10-3 mm2/s, and (0.91±0.34)×10-3 mm2/s, respectively. The difference was significant between group C and group AB and group C and control group (P=0.000, P=0.000), respectively. There was no statistical significance between group AB and control group (P=0.069). Conclusions: The value of ADC decreased as the aggravation of the hepatic cirrhosis. To some extent, the ADC value may reflect the degree of liver cirrhosis.