Regional Analysis of Liver Surface Nodularity in a Single Axial <scp>MR</scp> Image for Staging Liver Fibrosis

The assessment of liver surface nodularity (LSN) for staging hepatic fibrosis is restricted in clinical practice because it requires customized software and time-consuming procedures. A simplified method to estimate LSN score may be useful in the clinic.To evaluate the regional analysis of LSN and processing time in a single axial liver MR image for staging liver fibrosis.Retrospective.A total of 210 subjects, a multicenter study.A 3 T/noncontrast gradient echo T1WI.Subjects were divided into five fibrosis groups (FRegional variations in LSN scores were compared using ANOVA with Tukey test. Agreement between the mean and regional LSN measurements was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and Bland-Altman plots. The diagnostic performance of mean and regional LSN scores according to fibrosis stage was evaluated with the AUROC. A P value 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Total processing time for a regional LSN measurement (3.6 min) was 75.5% less than that for mean LSN measurement (14.7 min). Mean LSN scores and all five regional LSN scores showed significant differences between fibrosis groups. Among regional LSN scores, ROIQuantitative regional LSN measurement in a single axial MR image reduces processing time. Regional ROI3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.