Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) functional parameters in the diagnosis of decompensated liver functions in patients with hepatitis B-induced liver cirrhosis (LC). Methods 143 consecutive patients with hepatitis B-induced LC were encountered in our hospital between February 2020 and February 2022, including compensated in 76 cases and decompensated LC in 67 cases based on guideline criteria diagnosis. 60 healthy individuals during the same period were included, and all subjects underwent liver DCE-MRI scanning, and the functional imaging parameters were obtained by using Extended Tofts hemodynamic model. The kappa test was used to verify diagnostic consistency. Results Hepatic artery perfusion(HAP), hepatic perfusion index(HPI), mean transit time (MTT)and time to peak (TTP) in patients with decompensated LC were(38.6±14.7)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, (0.8±0.2), (57.5±16.6)s and (13.7±3.4)s, all significantly higher than [(28.8±15.3)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, (0.5±0.1), (34.3±11.4)s and (8.4±1.3)s, respectively, P＜0.05] in patients with compensated LC or [(23.6±12.6)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, (0.3±0.1), (17.4±14.2)s and (5.6±1.2)s, respectively, P＜0.05] in control, while portal vein perfusion(PVP) and full perfusion (FP) were (45.6±17.5)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1 and (63.5±23.4)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, significantly lower than [(72.4±21.8)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1 and (109.7±18.8)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, P＜0.05] in compensated LC or [(101.5±24.6)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1 and (128.5±21.9)ml·min^-1·100 g^-1, P＜0.05] in healthy individuals; the diagnosis of decompensated LC by MRI functional parameters was well consistent to that based on guideline (kappa=0.790), with the sensitivity of89.5%, specificity of 89.6%, accuracy of 89.5%, positive predictive value of 90.7% and negative predictive value of 88.2%. Conclusion The DCE-MRI functional parameters could help early diagnosis of decompensated liver functions in patients with hepatitis B-induced LC, which might guide clinical decision-making.

Key words: Liver cirrhosis, Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, Decompensated liver functions, Diagnosis