MRI for the measurement of liver iron content, and for the diagnosis and follow-up of iron overload disorders

Abstract

MRI is now the reference method for detecting and quantifying hepatic and extrahepatic iron overload, regardless of its cause. The decrease of the hepatic signal is proportional to the amount of iron in the tissues. It is more pronounced with T2*-weighted gradient echo sequences. It increases proportionally with the strength of the magnetic field. Thus a 3-T MRI is be more sensitive and probably more accurate to detect a slight iron overload, as seen in dysmetabolic hepatosiderosis. Conversely, a 1.5-T MRI better estimates a high overload. Quantification can be done with the calculation of T2* (or R2*) or by using the liver to muscle signal intensity ratio (SIR). Today with a single multi-echo gradient-echo sequence, obtained in a unique apnea, the two methods can be used simultaneously. An associated quantification of steatosis is also obtained. This same type of sequence is proposed for quantification of iron in other tissues and in particular for the myocardium.