Study: MRI scan can predict liver fibrosis

NEW YORK, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. study has determined moderate to severe chronic liver disease can be predicted with the use of a type of magnetic resonance imaging.

The researchers at New York University Medical Center said the diffusion-weighted MRI scans appear promising, although further study is needed.

"Due to the increased incidence of chronic hepatitis in the United States, particularly hepatitis C, there is a strong need for non-invasive methods to replace or supplement liver biopsy, which is relatively invasive and limited by interobserver variability and sampling error,” said Dr. Bachir Taouli, lead author of the research.

"At this point, this is an experimental method that needs to be tested in a larger series," said Taouli. "However, diffusion imaging does show potential for decreasing the number of biopsies and decreasing the number of antifibrogenic drug trials."

The study appears in the October issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.