Clinical value of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI in evaluating the degree of esophageal varices

Objective To explore the value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid （Gd-EOB-DTPA） enhanced MRI in evaluating the degree of esophageal varices. Methods Clinical data of 114 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B cirrhosis and Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI examination through clinical comprehensive diagnosis at Jiangsu Provincical Hospital of Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 was retrospective analyzed. The patients were divided into non-varicose vein group, small varicose vein group and large varicose vein group based on the diagnostic threshold of 3 mm esophageal vein width. The signal intensity (SI) of liver, spleen and erector spinae muscles were measured in each group during the plain scan and hepatobiliary phase (20 minutes after enhancement). The relative liver enhancement (RLE), contrast uptake index （CUI）, and liver-to-spleen contrast index (LSI) were calculated. The differences in indicators between each group were compared, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were drawn. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each indicator in diagnosing varicose veins. Results There was a significant difference in RLE, CUI, and LSI between the non-varicose vein group and the large varicose vein group (P＜0.05), while there was no significant difference in RLE, CUI, and LSI between the small varicose vein group, as well as between small varicose vein group and large varicose vein group (P>0.05). The AUC of RLE, CUI and LSI for diagnosing large varicose veins was 0.668 (95%CI: 0.558-0.793), 0.676 (95%CI: 0.567-0.804) and 0.685 (95%CI: 0.550-0.780), respectively. Conclusion Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI has certain value in evaluating the degree of esophageal varices.