Predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure by combined volumetric, functional MR image and laboratory analysis

Background & Aims: To assess the efficacy of functional MR image with volumetric, liver function test and indocyanine green clearance (ICG) in identifying the patients who are at risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). Methods: We retrospectively included 115 patients undergoing gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging before hepatectomy at one medical centre from January 2013 to December 2015. Contrast enhancement ratio (CER) between transitional and hepatobiliary phases (3 and 30 minutes post-contrast) was calculated. Total liver volume (TLV) and spleen volume (Sp) were measured. Post-operatively, the histological Ishak fibrosis score was collected. Potential risk factors for liver failure were analysed, and the performance was examined by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) occurred in 16 patients (13.9%). TLV/SLV, ADC value, CER_HBP/TP and total liver contrast enhancement ratio (tCER) were associated with PHLF (P <.05). Between PHLF and non-PHLF groups, remnant liver volume (RLV), RLV/SLV, Sp/RLV, remnant liver contrast enhancement ratio (rCER) and Ishak fibrosis score showed statistical difference. rCER showed superiority in diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.78) with the optimal cut-off value of 1.23. Conclusions: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging with volumetric is a reliable method for evaluating functional liver volume and determining the risk of PHLF.