MR-derived Hepatic Fat Fraction and Stiffness in Chronic Liver Disease Patients: Comparing Different Vendors and Field Strengths

Motivation: Liver MRE stiffness and PDFF measurements need consistency across MRI scanners, but previous studies showed mixed results for PDFF across vendors and field strengths. Goal(s): To compare these measurements across two different vendor scanners and field strengths (1.5T vs 3T) in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. Approach: 30 CLD patients underwent same-day MRE and PDFF measurements within 2 hours using both scanners, with PDFF sequences calibrated using a phantom. Results: MRE differences were small, 0.24 kPa, p=0.03, within clinically acceptable range (concordance correlation coefficient, CC>0.9), whereas PDFF differences were large at 5 %, p<0.001, with CC<0.9, and beyond the clinically acceptable range. Impact: MRE measurement differences between both scanners were significant but small within clinically acceptable range (concordance correlation, CC>0.9). However, for PDFF and MRS on 1.5T and 3T PDFF and 1.5T PDFF, the differences were significantly large and not clinically acceptable (CC<0.9).