{Reference Type}: Consensus Development Conference
{Title}: ESGAR consensus statement on liver MR imaging and clinical use of liver-specific contrast agents.
{Author}: Neri E;Bali MA;Ba-Ssalamah A;Boraschi P;Brancatelli G;Alves FC;Grazioli L;Helmberger T;Lee JM;Manfredi R;Martì-Bonmatì L;Matos C;Merkle EM;Op De Beeck B;Schima W;Skehan S;Vilgrain V;Zech C;Bartolozzi C;
{Journal}: Eur Radiol
{Volume}: 26
{Issue}: 4
{Year}: Apr 2016
{Factor}: 7.034
{DOI}: 10.1007/s00330-015-3900-3
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To develop a consensus and provide updated recommendations on liver MR imaging and the clinical use of liver-specific contrast agents.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) formed a multinational European panel of experts, selected on the basis of a literature review and their leadership in the field of liver MR imaging. A modified Delphi process was adopted to draft a list of statements. Descriptive and Cronbach's statistics were used to rate levels of agreement and internal reliability of the consensus.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Three Delphi rounds were conducted and 76 statements composed on MR technique (n = 17), clinical application of liver-specific contrast agents in benign, focal liver lesions (n = 7), malignant liver lesions in non-cirrhotic (n = 9) and in cirrhotic patients (n = 18), diffuse and vascular liver diseases (n = 12), and bile ducts (n = 13). The overall mean score of agreement was 4.84 (SD ±0.17). Full consensus was reached in 22 % of all statements in all working groups, with no full consensus reached on diffuse and vascular diseases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The consensus provided updated recommendations on the methodology, and clinical indications, of MRI with liver specific contrast agents in the study of liver diseases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>• Liver-specific contrast agents are recommended in MRI of the liver. • The hepatobiliary phase improves the detection and characterization of hepatocellular lesions. • Liver-specific contrast agents can improve the detection of HCC.