Validation of water-fat MRI and proton MRS in assessment of hepatic fat and the heterogeneous distribution of hepatic fat and iron in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Hepatic fat measurements using MRS and water-fat MRI are statistically equivalent. In subjects with NAFLD regardless of their age, hepatic fat is stored preferentially in the right live lobe probably due to the streamline of blood flow to the right liver. T2* value is significantly higher in the right liver lobe in adults but not in the teenagers regardless of their hepatic fat contents probably due to the longer time span of hepatic iron accumulation.