Vessel Size Imaging for Liver Fibrosis Staging Based on Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Using SE/GRE-EPI Sequence：Comparison with US Elastography and Histopathological Correlation

The study investigated the value of vessel size imaging (VSI) based on dynamic susceptibility contrast using SE/GRE-EPI sequence for liver fibrosis staging, compared with US elastography and correlated with histopathological results. We found that VVF and Nu value based on VSI were independent predicative factors of liver fibrosis (R2=0.566，P=0.002). They had correlation with hepatic sinusoidal structures including parenchymal area (PA), sinusoidal area (SA), hepatocyte area (HA), sinusoidal perimeter (SP), SA/SP ratio, SA/SP index, and HA/SP index. Microvessel density (MVDdensity) and area (MVDarea). VSI has potential for liver fibrosis staging with good diagnostic capability similar to US elastography.