This publication received support from the fifth national program for the identification of outstanding clinical talents in traditional Chinese medicine, organized by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The official network link is&#39;http://www.natcm.gov.cn/renjiaosi/zhengcewenjian/2021-11-04/23082.html.

The study was approved, and the patient was recruited from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, in Beijing, China. The patient underwent a routine abdominal Dixon MRI scan after providing informed consent. In this investigation, a 3D distribution modeling approach is employed to reconstruct the liver fat fraction (LFF) in a standard patient with medically diagnosed hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, the study provides a quantitative assessment comparing the pa...

A Comprehensive 3D-Liver Fat Function Distribution Model Using Dixon MRI

<ol>
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M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+global+burden+of+liver+disease.">The global burden of liver disease.</a> Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 21 (8), 1978-1991 (2023).</li><li>Younossi, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Global+burden+of+NAFLD+and+NASH.+Trends,+predictions,+risk+factors+and+prevention.">Global burden of NAFLD and NASH. Trends, predictions, risk factors and prevention.</a> Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 15 (1), 11-20 (2018).</li><li>Boyum, J. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Incidence+and+risk+factors+for+adverse+events+related+to+image-guided+liver+biopsy.">Incidence and risk factors for adverse events related to image-guided liver biopsy.</a> Mayo Clin Proc. 91 (3), 329-335 (2016).</li><li>Khalifa, A., Rockey, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+utility+of+liver+biopsy+in+2020.">The utility of liver biopsy in 2020.</a> Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 36 (3), 184-191 (2020).</li><li>Sumida, Y., Nakajima, A., Itoh, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Limitations+of+liver+biopsy+and+non-invasive+diagnostic+tests+for+the+diagnosis+of+nonalcoholic+fatty+liver+disease/nonalcoholic+steatohepatitis.">Limitations of liver biopsy and non-invasive diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.</a> World J Gastroenterol. 20 (2), 475-485 (2014).</li><li>Ajmera, V., Loomba, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+biomarkers+of+NAFLD,+NASH,+and+fibrosis.">Imaging biomarkers of NAFLD, NASH, and fibrosis.</a> Mol Metab. 50, 101167 (2021).</li><li>Castera, L., Friedrich-Rust, M., Loomba, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Noninvasive+assessment+of+liver+disease+in+patients+with+nonalcoholic+fatty+liver+disease.">Noninvasive assessment of liver disease in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.</a> Gastroenterology. 156 (5), 1264-1281 (2019).</li><li>Jiang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Application+of+multi-echo+Dixon+and+MRS+in+quantifying+hepatic+fat+content+and+staging+liver+fibrosis.">Application of multi-echo Dixon and MRS in quantifying hepatic fat content and staging liver fibrosis.</a> Sci Rep. 13 (1), 12555 (2023).</li><li>Yang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+accuracy+and+clinical+relevance+of+the+multi-echo+dixon+technique+for+evaluating+changes+to+hepatic+steatosis+in+patients+with+non-alcoholic+fatty+liver+disease+treated+with+formulated+food.">The accuracy and clinical relevance of the multi-echo dixon technique for evaluating changes to hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treated with formulated food.</a> Magn Reson Med Sci. 22 (2), 263-271 (2023).</li><li>Peng, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fat-water+separation+based+on+Transition+REgion+Extraction+(TREE).">Fat-water separation based on Transition REgion Extraction (TREE).</a> Magn Reason Med. 82 (1), 436-448 (2019).</li><li>Hines, C. D. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=T(1)+independent,+T(2)(*)+corrected+chemical+shift+based+fat-water+separation+with+multi-peak+fat+spectral+modeling+is+an+accurate+and+precise+measure+of+hepatic+steatosis.">T(1) independent, T(2)(*) corrected chemical shift based fat-water separation with multi-peak fat spectral modeling is an accurate and precise measure of hepatic steatosis.</a> Magn Reason Imaging. 33 (1), 873-881 (2011).</li><li>Tang, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nonalcoholic+fatty+liver+disease:+MR+imaging+of+liver+proton+density+fat+fraction+to+assess+hepatic+steatosis.">Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: MR imaging of liver proton density fat fraction to assess hepatic steatosis.</a> Radiology. 267 (2), 422-431 (2013).</li><li>Caussy, C., Reeder, S. B., Sirlin, C. B., Loomba, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Noninvasive,+quantitative+assessment+of+liver+fat+by+MRI-PDFF+as+an+endpoint+in+NASH+Trials.">Noninvasive, quantitative assessment of liver fat by MRI-PDFF as an endpoint in NASH Trials.</a> Hepatology. 68 (2), 763-772 (2018).</li><li>Reeder, S. B., Cruite, I., Hamilton, G., Sirlin, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+assessment+of+liver+fat+with+magnetic+resonance+imaging+and+spectroscopy.">Quantitative assessment of liver fat with magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.</a> Magn Reson Imaging. 34 (4), 729-749 (2011).</li></ol>

The software tool for hepatic steatosis quantification, listed in the Table of Materials of this study as HepaticSteatosis V1.0, is a product of Beijing Intelligent Entropy Science &amp; Technology Co., Ltd. The intellectual property rights of this software tool belong to the company.

This research presents an innovative 3D quantification technique for analyzing the distribution of liver fat fraction (LFF) using Dixon MRI9,10. By integrating LFF maps, which are generated from in-phase and water-phase images, with 3D liver contours, this method distinguishes between LFF patterns in normal and steatotic livers6. Consequently, it facilitates a precise evaluation of liver fat content.
Step 3 repr...

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of pathological conditions, ranging from the abnormal accumulation of triglycerides in liver cells (hepatic steatosis) to the development of inflammation and damage to liver cells, known as non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). In some cases, NAFLD can progress to more severe stages, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, or even Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)1. Published data from the World Health Organization and the Global Burden of Disease suggest that approximately 1,235.7 million individuals worldwide are affected by NAFLD across all age groups2. NAFLD currently ranks as one of the most prominent causes of liver-related diseases globally and is expected to become the leading cause of end-stage liver disease in the coming decades3.
The accurate assessment of hepatic steatosis&#39;s extent holds substantial importance for precise diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection, and effective disease progression monitoring. The gold standard for assessing liver fat content continues to be liver biopsy. However, due to its invasive nature, the potential for pain, bleeding, and other postoperative complications, it is not a practical option for frequent follow-up examinations4,5,6. Consequently, there is a pressing need for noninvasive imaging techniques that can reliably quantify hepatic fat deposition. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows promise in this area due to its lack of ionizing radiation and its ability to sensitively detect fat content through chemical shift effects7,8.
Recent studies have outlined MRI techniques for quantifying hepatic fat, based on chemical shift gradient echo methods like Dixon imaging9,10. Nonetheless, the majority of these techniques rely on the analysis of two-dimensional regions of interest. The comprehensive evaluation of the three-dimensional distribution of liver fat fraction (LFF) has remained limited. In the present study, a unique 3D LFF quantification approach is introduced, combining Dixon MRI with liver structural imaging. The resulting 3D LFF model allows for precise visualization and measurement of the distribution of fat content throughout the entire volume of the liver. This technique demonstrates substantial clinical utility for the accurate diagnosis of hepatic steatosis.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>MATLAB</td>
			<td>MathWorks&#160;</td>
			<td>2022B</td>
			<td>Computing and visualization&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mimics</td>
			<td>Materialise</td>
			<td>Mimics Research V20</td>
			<td>Model format transformation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tools for 3D_LFF</td>
			<td>Intelligent Entropy</td>
			<td>HepaticSteatosis V1.0</td>
			<td>Beijing Intelligent Entropy Science &#38; Technology Co Ltd. 
			Modeling for CT/MRI fusion</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a 3d quantification technique for liver fat fraction distribution analysis using dixon magnetic resonance imaging

This study presents a 3D quantification methodology for the distribution of liver fat fraction (LFF) through the utilization of Dixon MRI image analysis. The central aim is to offer a highly accurate and non-invasive means of evaluating liver fat content. The process involves the acquisition of In-phase and Water-phase images from a Dixon sequence. LFF maps are then meticulously computed voxel by voxel by dividing the Lipid Phase images by the In-phase images. Simultaneously, 3D liver contours are extracted from the In-phase images. These crucial components are seamlessly integrated to construct a comprehensive 3D-LFF distribution model. This technique is not limited to healthy livers but extends to those afflicted by hepatic steatosis. The results obtained demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of this approach in both visualizing and quantifying liver fat content. It distinctly discerns patterns that differentiate between normal and steatotic livers. By harnessing Dixon MRI to extract the 3D structure of the liver, this method offers precise LFF assessments spanning the entirety of the organ, thereby holding great promise for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis with remarkable effectiveness.

Author Spotlight: A Non-Invasive Tool to Assess and Differentiate Fat Patterns in Liver Using 3D Dixon MRI 

A 3D Quantification Technique for Liver Fat Fraction Distribution Analysis Using Dixon Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This study developed a 3D Dixon MRI technique to precisely quantify liver fat distribution, aiming to validate its efficacy as an accurate, non-invasive tool for assessing and differentiating fat patterns in normal versus steatotic livers. Recent advances in MRI fat quantification include normal 3D distribution modeling approaches, integrating Dixon Imaging with liver structure segmentation to enable precise visualization and environment of liver fat fraction patterns. Integrating AI-driven medical imaging, deep learning, 3D visualization, and a multimodal data fusion enhances whole liver modeling and steatotic assessment, facilitating precise clinic decision-making.Current experimental challenges include standardizing computational workflows, addressing variations in equipment and protocols, and elucidating the mechanisms of disease progression in hepatic steatosis research. Our protocol offers the advantage of 3D liver fat fraction assessment, surpassing the 2D techniques. The findings will advance research in our field by offering a comprehensive and accurate 3D LFF assessment of different stages of fatty liver disease, which is crucial for treatment decisions and prognosis evaluation.

This investigation utilizes actual patient datasets acquired using a commercially available MRI scanner to validate the 3D liver fat fraction quantification methodology (Figure 1). The MRI protocol included Dixon&#39;s four-phase imaging9,10: In-phase, Out-of-phase, Water-only, and Fat-only (Figure 2). The fat fraction (FF) of each voxel is computed by dividing the In-phase minus Water-only voxel signal ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Non-Invasive Tool to Assess and Differentiate Fat Patterns in Liver Using 3D Dixon MRI at JoVE.com

This study introduces a unique 3D quantification method for liver fat fraction (LFF) distribution using Dixon Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Dixon MRI). LFF maps, derived from in-phase and water-phase images, are integrated with 3D liver contours to differentiate LFF patterns between normal and steatotic livers, enabling precise assessment of liver fat content.

This study presents a 3D quantification methodology for the distribution of liver fat fraction (LFF) through the utilization of Dixon MRI image analysis. ...

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794 vistas.  Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Este estudio desarrolló una técnica de resonancia magnética Dixon 3D para cuantificar con precisión la distribución de la grasa hepática, con el objetivo de validar su eficacia como una herramienta precisa y no invasiva para evaluar y diferenciar los patrones de grasa en hígados normales frente a esteatóticos. Los avances recientes en la cuantificación de la grasa de la RM incluyen enfoques de modelado de distribución 3D normal, que integran Dixon Imaging con la segmentación de la ...

Video: Autor destacado: Una herramienta no invasiva para evaluar y diferenciar los patrones de grasa en el hígado mediante la resonancia magnética 3D de Dixon 