MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE LIVER AND SPLEEN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF STORAGE DISEASES (literature review)

Storage diseases (thesaurismosis, storage reticuloses) are the complex and extensive group of diseases in which differential diagnosis of pathological changes from the internal organs is difficult. For diagnosis and dynamic observation of liver and spleen lesions, ultrasound and X-ray computed tomography are used among imaging techniques. Among the imaging techniques for diffuse liver diseases, ultrasonography and X-ray computed tomography are most commonly used for their diagnosis and follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the highest sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing liver diseases.The article considers the current MRI procedures that are used to diagnose storage diseases and to quantify found changes. For Gaucher disease, the potentials of such novel technique as magnetic resonance spectroscopy are described. Incorporation of MRI into the examination algorithm for patients with storage diseases will be able to improve the detection of these rare diseases and to monitor the efficiency of performed therapy.