T2 relaxation time is related to liver fibrosis severity

Chronic liver disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Recent studies suggest that there will be approximately 150,000 patients with chronic liver disease diagnosed each year (1,2). Of these 150,000, almost 20%, or an estimated 30,000 patients per year, will have cirrhosis at the time of presentation (1,3). Cirrhosis remains a major public health problem and disease-related complications were associated with nearly 40,000 deaths and more than 1.4 billion dollars spent on medical services in the US (1,3). There is a great need to develop and identify methods of risk stratification and prognosis for patients with chronic liver disease (4,5)