A groundbreaking AI tool for liver disease diagnosis
In a significant advancement for the diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases, Quibim (Valencia, Spain), has unveiled its latest product, QP-Liver, a new AI-driven tool designed to enhance the accuracy of diagnosing liver conditions by quantifying tissue fat and iron levels through MRI scans. This cutting-edge technology has recently received the green light for clinical use within the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Liver disease represents a profound global healthcare challenge, contributing to approximately two million deaths worldwide each year. The introduction of technology such as QP-Liver promises a new era in the management of liver diseases. This innovative tool leverages AI to perform highly accurate liver segmentation and quantification of fat and iron, aligning with reference digital pathology data. This facilitates early detection, precise monitoring, and the customization of treatment plans, potentially reducing the reliance on invasive biopsy procedures.
QP-Liver’s post-processing solution is adept at analyzing abdominal MRI examinations, specifically multi-echo chemical shift sequences, to accurately detect and quantify fat content. It produces parametric maps of fat and iron, offering a detailed analysis at a voxel-wise resolution. This allows for the generation of structured quantitative reports.
The simultaneous quantification of iron and fat by QP-Liver provides comprehensive data essential for the evaluation of steatosis and iron overload, improving the precision of disease severity assessments. This in turn enhances the quality of radiological reports and the decision-making processes within healthcare facilities. Furthermore, researchers can utilize QP-Liver to correlate quantification with reference to digital pathology data, enabling a thorough analysis.
Angel Alberich-Bayarri, co-founder and CEO of Quibim, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch: “The coexistence of fat and iron in the liver is a known risk factor for hepatocarcinoma, necessitating early management. QP-Liver represents a significant advance in liver imaging analysis by automating liver segmentation and quantifying tissue fat and iron collectively rather than separately. This innovation not only boosts accuracy but also empowers clinicians to make more informed decisions when diagnosing patients with diffuse liver diseases. The impact of this tool on liver disease diagnosis is profound, showcasing the synergy of AI, quantitative algorithms and healthcare.”
Alberich-Bayarri also highlighted the collaborative nature of this achievement, emphasizing the crucial role of research, healthcare and pharmaceutical partners in ensuring the technology’s application in patient treatment. The regulatory approval of QP-Liver marks a milestone in Quibim’s mission to accelerate the early detection of cancer and liver diseases, signaling a promising future for its application across the EU and the UK.
For further insights into AI’s role in combating liver disease, consider exploring this excellent review by Nam et al.
