DWI-Derived Sequences: Application in the Evaluation of Liver Fibrosis

There exists a close relationship between liver fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Prolonged progression of liver fibrosis may ultimately lead to cirrhosis, thereby increasing the risk of developing HCC. Current research is exploring non-invasive methods for assessing liver fibrosis. One such method is the single exponential model Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) sequence, which uses the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) to quantify tissue characteristics. However, this method has limitations when it comes to evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis. Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM), Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI), Stretched Exponential Model (SEM), and Fractional Order Calculus (FROC) have been developed based on traditional single-exponential DWI. These advancements have made diffusion-weighted imaging more specific. However, their imaging principles and application values differ. This article aimed to review the research progress of these DWI-derived sequences in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.