MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies

Abstract Background To identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of confluent hepatic fibrosis (CHF) caused by different etiologies. Methods The imaging features of 50 patients with CHF on liver MRI were retrospectively analyzed on conventional and contrast-enhanced sequences. Results P...

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Main Authors: Dan Yu, Xiao-Hua Li, Xue-Lin He, Xi-Bin Jia, Zhen-Chang Wang, Zheng-Han Yang, A-Hong Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04101-9
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author Dan Yu
Xiao-Hua Li
Xue-Lin He
Xi-Bin Jia
Zhen-Chang Wang
Zheng-Han Yang
A-Hong Ren
author_facet Dan Yu
Xiao-Hua Li
Xue-Lin He
Xi-Bin Jia
Zhen-Chang Wang
Zheng-Han Yang
A-Hong Ren
author_sort Dan Yu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background To identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of confluent hepatic fibrosis (CHF) caused by different etiologies. Methods The imaging features of 50 patients with CHF on liver MRI were retrospectively analyzed on conventional and contrast-enhanced sequences. Results Patients were subgrouped by different etiology (alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis B, drug-induced liver injury, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and others). The median age of the patients was 55 years, and 68% were female. On MRI, CHF lesions were predominantly radial and wedge-shaped patches, located in proximity to the second hepatic hilum, and exhibited delayed enhancement. On T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), 94% of CHF lesions presented hypointensity; on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, most CHF lesions demonstrated mild to moderate hyperintensity. Some lesions also demonstrated diffusely distribution around the vascular (16%) and subcapsular regions (18%), with mild to moderate enhancement on the late arterial phase. 76% of CHF lesions were accompanied by liver cirrhosis, and 62% cases were associated with capsular retraction. Conclusions The clinical and MRI characteristics of CHF minimally vary across different etiology of liver disease. CHF lesions predominantly exhibit radial distribution from the second hepatic hilum, accompanied by consistent delayed enhancement and capsular retraction.
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spelling doaj-art-b4b1c15a8e7e4afe97eff9c6c576f0832025-08-20T03:05:29ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-07-0125111110.1186/s12876-025-04101-9MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologiesDan Yu0Xiao-Hua Li1Xue-Lin He2Xi-Bin Jia3Zhen-Chang Wang4Zheng-Han Yang5A-Hong Ren6Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityFaculty of Information, Beijing University of TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Background To identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of confluent hepatic fibrosis (CHF) caused by different etiologies. Methods The imaging features of 50 patients with CHF on liver MRI were retrospectively analyzed on conventional and contrast-enhanced sequences. Results Patients were subgrouped by different etiology (alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis B, drug-induced liver injury, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and others). The median age of the patients was 55 years, and 68% were female. On MRI, CHF lesions were predominantly radial and wedge-shaped patches, located in proximity to the second hepatic hilum, and exhibited delayed enhancement. On T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), 94% of CHF lesions presented hypointensity; on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, most CHF lesions demonstrated mild to moderate hyperintensity. Some lesions also demonstrated diffusely distribution around the vascular (16%) and subcapsular regions (18%), with mild to moderate enhancement on the late arterial phase. 76% of CHF lesions were accompanied by liver cirrhosis, and 62% cases were associated with capsular retraction. Conclusions The clinical and MRI characteristics of CHF minimally vary across different etiology of liver disease. CHF lesions predominantly exhibit radial distribution from the second hepatic hilum, accompanied by consistent delayed enhancement and capsular retraction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04101-9Confluent hepatic fibrosisAlcoholic liver diseaseAutoimmune hepatitisMagnetic resonance imaging
spellingShingle Dan Yu
Xiao-Hua Li
Xue-Lin He
Xi-Bin Jia
Zhen-Chang Wang
Zheng-Han Yang
A-Hong Ren
MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
BMC Gastroenterology
Confluent hepatic fibrosis
Alcoholic liver disease
Autoimmune hepatitis
Magnetic resonance imaging
title MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
title_full MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
title_fullStr MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
title_full_unstemmed MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
title_short MRI findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
title_sort mri findings of confluent hepatic fibrosis caused by different etiologies
topic Confluent hepatic fibrosis
Alcoholic liver disease
Autoimmune hepatitis
Magnetic resonance imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04101-9
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