Abstract: Objective To analyze the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with 64-slice spiral computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of liver regenerating nodules in hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patients. Methods The clinical data of 69 patients with space occupying liver lesions and hepatitis B-related cirrhosis admitted from March 2020 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into a control group (n=24, with cancerous nodules in liver) and a study group (n=45, with regenerative nodules in liver) according to pathological diagnosis. All patients received MRI multi-B value imaging examination and 64-slice spiral CT examination. General data, CT values of portal vein and aorta scanning in different periods, and CT values of hepatic parenchyma scanning in different periods were compared between the two groups. The pathological diagnosis was taken as the gold standard. The consistency of 64-slice spiral CT, MRI multi-B-value imaging, and pathological diagnosis results was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was made while the area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI multi-B-value imaging, 64-slice spiral CT and their combination in liver regenerating nodules in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. Results The pathological results showed that there were 37 cancerous nodules detected in the control group and 98 regenerated nodules detected in the study group. There were no differences in the sex, age, Scheuer stage of cirrhosis and nodule diameter between the two groups (P>0.05). The delayed phase and arterial phase of portal vein, the portal phase and arterial phase of aorta, the arterial phase, portal phase and delayed phase of hepatic parenchyma of CT values in the study group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The values in the study group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The Kappa values of MRI multi-B value imaging, 64-slice spiral CT and their combination in the diagnosis of liver regeneration nodules and pathological diagnosis in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis were 0.821, 0.758 and 0.897, respectively, showing good consistency (P<0.05). The result of ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC values of MRI multi-B-value imaging, 64-slice spiral CT and the combined diagnosis of liver regenerating nodules in hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patients were 0.792, 0.739 and 0.942, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion MRI multi-B-value imaging combined with 64-slice spiral CT is of an higher value in the diagnosis of liver regenerating nodules in hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patients.

Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging multi-B value imaging, 64-row helical computed tomography, Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, Liver regeneration nodules, Diagnostic value