Abstract: Objective · To investigate the value of three-dimensional spin-lattice relaxation (T1ρ) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for liver fibrosis detection and staging and compare with two-dimentional real-time shear wave elastography (SWE).  Methods · Twenty-nine rabbit models of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis were established and six untreated rabbits served as controls. T1ρ MRI and two-dimentional real-time SWE examinations were performed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, respectively. T1ρ values and liver stiffness (LS) values were measured. Fibrosis was staged according to the METAVIR scoring system. Correlation test was performed among T1ρ values, LS values and fibrosis staging. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performance of T1ρ and SWE in detection of fibrosis.  Results · There was a moderate positive correlation between fibrosis staging and T1ρ values (r=0.566, P=0.000), and a significantly positive correlation between fibrosis staging and LS values (r=0.726, P=0.003). Areas under ROC were 0.861 for SWE and 0.856 for T1ρ (P=0.940), 0.906 for SWE and 0.849 for T1ρ (P=0.414), 0.870 for SWE and 0.799 for T1ρ (P=0.422), and 0.846 for SWE and 0.692 for T1ρ (P=0.137), when diagnosing liver fibrosis with ≥ F1, ≥ F2, ≥ F3 and F4 stage, respectively. 
 Conclusion · T1ρ imaging has potential for liver fibrosis detection and staging with good diagnostic capability similar to that of SWE.

Key words:  liver fibrosis, spin-lattice relaxation, elastography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging