Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Hepatic Fat from Fundamental to Clinical Applications

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 842
• Main Authors: Pasanta, Duanghathai, Htun, Khin Thandar, Pan, Jie, Tungjai, Montree, Kaewjaeng, Siriprapa, Kim, Hongjoo, Kaewkhao, Jakrapong, Kothan, Suchart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 07.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: 1H-MRS; Accuracy; Biopsy; Cardiovascular disease; hepatic steatosis; Hepatitis; Liver diseases; liver fat; liver fat fraction; Magnetic fields; Magnetic resonance imaging; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Morbidity; Mortality; Radiation; Review; Spectrum analysis; Transplants & implants; Ultrasonic imaging; liver fat fraction; 1H-MRS; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; liver fat; hepatic steatosis
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11050842

The number of individuals suffering from fatty liver is increasing worldwide, leading to interest in the noninvasive study of liver fat. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful tool that allows direct quantification of metabolites in tissue or areas of interest. MRS has been applied in both research and clinical studies to assess liver fat noninvasively in vivo. MRS has also demonstrated excellent performance in liver fat assessment with high sensitivity and specificity compared to biopsy and other imaging modalities. Because of these qualities, MRS has been generally accepted as the reference standard for the noninvasive measurement of liver steatosis. MRS is an evolving technique with high potential as a diagnostic tool in the clinical setting. This review aims to provide a brief overview of the MRS principle for liver fat assessment and its application, and to summarize the current state of MRS study in comparison to other techniques.