English

Abstract

Hemochromatosis is characterized by a progressive increase in total body iron stores with abnormal iron deposition in multiple organs. MRI is the most sensitive and specific imaging modality in the diagnosis of hemochromatosis.(1) We report the MRI findings of a rare case of secondary hemochromatosis in a patient with cirrhosis. INTRODUCTION: Hemochromatosis is a pathologic state of intracellular iron accumulation in parenchymal tissues. It can be classified as primary when it originates from genetic disturbance that promotes increase in iron absorption. Secondary causes may be due to chronic disease or multiple blood transfusions.(1) The disease is often clinically silent, but can be diagnosed by MR imaging. CASE REPORT: A 48 year male patient who is a chronic alcoholic and a known case of chronic liver disease presented to our department for MRI. MRI revealed the following; diffuse loss of signal intensity in the liver and spleen suggestive of iron deposition with evidence of irregular and nodular surface of liver suggestive of liver cirrhosis Fig. 1: Axial and coronal MRI showing nodularity of liver outline suggestive of cirrhosis and a low signal intensity of liver and spleen that is due to iron overload.