Summary:

LiverDCE analyzes dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) data using a variety of pharmacokinetic models. It is primarily focused on models adapted for use with hepatobiliary contrast agents such as Gd-EOB-DTPA (gadoxetate) and Gd-BOPTA (gadobenate) which are taken up into the liver via active transport and excreted into the bile as well as renally.

Dependencies:

Requires the following MATLAB toolboxes:

Medical Imaging, Global Optimization, Optimization, Image Processing, Parallel Computing, Curve Fitting, Signal Processing, Statistics and Machine Learning, Symbolic Math

Requires the following packages be installed and accessible on the MATLAB path:

afni_matlab (https://github.com/zsaad/afni_matlab)
imtool3D (https://github.com/MSU-Radiology/imtool3D). This is a customized version of the imtool3D package, based on version 2.4.2.0 of Justin Solomon's code published on the MATLAB File Exchange.

License:

This software is provided under the terms of the BSD 2-clause license. Specific details of the software license are given in the file "license.txt", which you should have received together with the source code.

Citations:

1. Amro. Answer to ‘What’s the “right” way to organize GUI code?’ Stack Overflow https://stackoverflow.com/a/20083075/610638 (2013).
2. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). MATLAB® Version: 9.14.0.2306882 (R2023a) Update 4, Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
3. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Medical Imaging Toolbox Version: 12.5 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
4. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Global Optimization Toolbox Version: 4.8.1 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
5. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Optimization Toolbox Version: 9.5 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
6. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Image Processing Toolbox Version: 11.7 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
7. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Parallel Computing Toolbox Version: 7.8 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
8. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Curve Fitting Toolbox Version: 3.9 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
9. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Signal Processing Toolbox Version: 9.2 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
10. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox Version: 12.5 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
11. The MathWorks Inc. (2023). Symbolic Math Toolbox Version: 9.3 (R2023a), Natick, Massachusetts: The MathWorks Inc.
12. Saad, Ziad. afni_matlab, (2001), GitHub repository, https://github.com/zsaad/afni_matlab
13. Solomon, Justin (2016). imtool3D (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/40753-imtool3d), MATLAB® Central File Exchange. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
14. Ziemian, S. et al. Ex vivo gadoxetate relaxivities in rat liver tissue and blood at five magnetic field strengths from 1.41 to 7 T. NMR Biomed 34, e4401 (2021).
15. EOVIST (Gadoxetate Disodium) Injection for intravenouse use: prescribing information (2010) FDA.gov. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022090s004lbl.pdf.
16. Weinmann, H. J. et al. A new lipophilic gadolinium chelate as a tissue-specific contrast medium for MRI. Magn Reson Med 22, 233–237; discussion 242 (1991).
17. Schuhmann-Giampieri, G. et al. Preclinical evaluation of Gd-EOB-DTPA as a contrast agent in MR imaging of the hepatobiliary system. Radiology 183, 59–64 (1992).
18. Shen, Y. et al. T1 relaxivities of gadolinium-based magnetic resonance contrast agents in human whole blood at 1.5, 3, and 7 T. Invest Radiol 50, 330–338 (2015).
19. Rohrer, M., Bauer, H., Mintorovitch, J., Requardt, M. & Weinmann, H.-J. Comparison of magnetic properties of MRI contrast media solutions at different magnetic field strengths. Invest Radiol 40, 715–724 (2005).
20. Shuter, B., Tofts, P. S., Wang, S. C. & Pope, J. M. The relaxivity of Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-DTPA in liver and kidney of the Wistar rat. Magn Reson Imaging 14, 243–253 (1996).
21. Shuter, B., Wang, S. C., Roche, J., Briggs, G. & Pope, J. M. Relaxivity of Gd-EOB-DTPA in the normal and biliary obstructed guinea pig. J Magn Reson Imaging 8, 853–861 (1998).
22. Pintaske, J. et al. Relaxivity of Gadopentetate Dimeglumine (Magnevist), Gadobutrol (Gadovist), and Gadobenate Dimeglumine (MultiHance) in human blood plasma at 0.2, 1.5, and 3 Tesla. Invest Radiol 41, 213–221 (2006).
23. Donahue, K. M., Burstein, D., Manning, W. J. & Gray, M. L. Studies of Gd-DTPA relaxivity and proton exchange rates in tissue. Magn Reson Med 32, 66–76 (1994).
24. Ulloa, J. L. et al. Assessment of gadoxetate DCE-MRI as a biomarker of hepatobiliary transporter inhibition. NMR Biomed 26, 1258–1270 (2013).
25. Berks, M. et al. A model selection framework to quantify microvascular liver function in gadoxetate-enhanced MRI: Application to healthy liver, diseased tissue, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Magn Reson Med 86, 1829–1844 (2021).
26. Georgiou, L. et al. Quantitative Assessment of Liver Function Using Gadoxetate-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Invest Radiol 52, 111–119 (2017).
27. Georgiou, L. DCE-MRI assessment of hepatic uptake and efflux of the contrast agent, gadoxetate, to monitor transporter-mediated processes and drug-drug interactions: in vitro and in vivo studies. University of Manchester School of Medicine (2014).

Revised 5/28/2025
-Matt Latourette