CT Liver Fat Fraction Quantification

NCT ID: NCT05676177

Last Updated: 2023-04-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 150 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-29
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

Our aim is to develop an AI based tool to use ultra-low dose CT in two separate energy levels using a single-energy CT machine to quantify liver fat in individuals at risk for having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), compared to MRI which serves as the standard of reference.

Secondary aim of our study is to validate the developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based model on a second group of participants ("external validation").

Detailed Description

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. It affects 25% of the global population, with a higher proportion in Middle Eastern countries, especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in whom NAFLD may be seen in up to 70% of patients. Studies have shown that in coming years, the disease is likely to become more prevalent, with increasing number of patients presenting with the more advanced disease form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the latter gradually becoming a leading cause for liver transplantation, alongside viral hepatitis. NAFLD is characterized by excessive fat deposition (steatosis) in liver cells and can appear in both obese and non-obese individuals. Among individuals diagnosed with NAFLD, an estimated 12-14% have NASH, which can lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As NAFLD is associated with cardiometabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, T2DM, hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia, it increases the risk of cardiovascular events and death. When discovered early, NAFLD can be treated by both lifestyle modification and various drugs. Although the gold standard for detecting NAFLD and quantifying the fat contents in liver cells is a non-targeted liver biopsy, blood tests and non-invasive imaging can assist in early diagnosis of patients at risk for developing NASH and for follow-up after treatment. Ultrasound for detection and assessment of hepatic steatosis is limited by subjective assessment; and variable sensitivity and specificity (53-76% and 76-93%, respectively). US may fail in obese patients or those with ascites, and is highly operator- and platform-dependent (inter- and intra-reader agreement ~50%). Moreover, it has limited utility in fat fraction quantification. Novel US methods are being constantly developed for accurate quantification, but are yet to be agreed upon and used in daily clinical routine.

The most commonly used method for quantifying the amount of fat in the liver is MRI, and specifically chemical shift imaging sequences. However, MRI has limitations, including the cost of scans, limited availability worldwide and patient-specific limitations, including claustrophobia and implanted electronic devices which may be unsafe in the MRI magnetic field. Currently, single and dual energy CT have shown limited utility in diagnosing and quantifying liver steatosis, and although CT is readily available worldwide, currently CT cannot be used for liver fat fraction quantification or for early NAFLD diagnosis. Attempts to utilize dual-energy CT, with and without use of artificial intelligence (AI) has shown limited success. Moreover, dual-energy CT is not readily available in most medical centers.

A prior study the investigators performed has already shown that ultra-low dose chest CT can diagnose liver steatosis, but the investigators have not yet assessed its capabilities in quantifying the amount of liver fat. Therefore, the investigators' aim is to develop a novel methodology in which ultra-low dose abdominal CT could be used for both diagnosing NAFLD and quantifying liver fat contents.

Conditions

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Steatosis of Liver

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Main study arm

All consenting participants will be invited to the radiology department during the medical screening rounds or at a different day (at their convenience). They will be scanned on both MRI and CT using dedicated protocols. Both scans will be conducted at the same day within a time-frame of 6 hours of each other. No follow up visit will be required.

MRI would be performed on a 3 Tesla magnet using a dedicated short protocol consisting of axial and coronal T2-weighted scans for anatomic assessment, and a dual-echo scan to assess for liver fat. The scan time would be less than 10 minutes.

CT scans will be performed using a single CT device. Ultra-low dose dual energy CT (ULD-DECT) scanning protocol parameters liver fat measurement (estimated scan time - less than 2 minutes).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ultra Low Dose CT

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

• Two immediately consecutive scans with either one or two breath-holds
• First scan (ULD_DECT_1) 140 kilovolt peak (kVp) - fixed current 10 or 20 milliampere (mA) (if body mass index (BMI)>30), that is 5 or 10 mAs
• Second scan (ULD_DECT_2) 80 kVp - fixed current 20 or 40 mA (if BMI>30), that is 10 or 20 mAs

Fat quantification MRI

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Dual echo scans, as well as proton density fat fraction (PDFF) scans, will be performed to assess liver fat fraction

Interventions

Ultra Low Dose CT

• Two immediately consecutive scans with either one or two breath-holds
• First scan (ULD_DECT_1) 140 kilovolt peak (kVp) - fixed current 10 or 20 milliampere (mA) (if body mass index (BMI)>30), that is 5 or 10 mAs
• Second scan (ULD_DECT_2) 80 kVp - fixed current 20 or 40 mA (if BMI>30), that is 10 or 20 mAs

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Fat quantification MRI

Dual echo scans, as well as proton density fat fraction (PDFF) scans, will be performed to assess liver fat fraction

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Adult patients (age ≥18 years)

• At risk for hepatic steatosis (defined as at least one of the followings: age >50 years, over weight (BMI>25), impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, T2DM, gestational diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, elevated liver enzymes, family history of steatosis or cirrhosis, increased liver span per medical examination, increased ferritin levels and the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 polymorphism), as decided by the treating endocrinologist in our institute's Medical screening department. 12-14
• No history of malignancy involving the liver.
• No known risk factors for hepatic iron deposition (multiple prior blood transfusions, known hemochromatosis).
• Subjects able to understand study procedures and provide informed consent.
• Subjects able to hold their breath during CT and MRI scans.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients younger than 18 years.

• Patients with risk factors from hepatic iron deposition (multiple prior blood transfusions, known hemochromatosis).
• Patients with known malignancy that involves the liver.
• Patients unable to hold their breath for both CT and MRI.
• Patients with severe claustrophobia.
• Patients with implanted devices of shrapnel.
• Pregnant people

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Sheba Medical Center

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Prof. Noam Tau

Staff Radiologist and Primary Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Prof. Noam Tau

Ramat Gan, , Israel

Countries

Israel

Other Identifiers

9785-22-SMC

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id