Evaluation of MRS- and MRI- PDFF and Liver Biopsy measure of hepatic fat fraction in a clinically relevant cohort

Motivation: Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) will increase the burden on future healthcare. Reliable screening alternatives such as MR-techniques e.g., nP-Dixon imaging and proton MR-spectroscopy are widely used. However, the number of studies comparing both MR-techniques with biopsies in clinically relevant cohorts is limited. Goal(s): Compare MR Dixon imaging and proton MR-spectroscopy fat fraction with histological evaluation of steatosisApproach: We have compared three different PDFF measurements; MRS, 6- and 2-point Dixon PDFF, in a prospective study, which included 84 clinically relevant patients with diffuse liver disease. Results: All three techniques could accurately characterize histology based steatosis scores in this clinically relevant cohort. Impact: In this prospective study, with a clinically relevant cohort, a difference between MRS and Dixon determined PDFF was measured. Both methods could distinguish between different histological levels of steatosis, and both methods could therefore characterize the patient group accurately.