Arthur Peter Wunderlich1, Holger Cario2, Mathias Schmid3, Markus Juchems1
1Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 2Pediatric Clinic, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 3Internal Hematology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany
To compare the liver iron content (LIC) determined by different MR methods, we investigated 30 patients with both spin-echo (SE) and gradient echo (GRE) sequences. LIC was measured with two published methods. Both methods correlate moderately for low LIC. In the high LIC range, however, patients with LIC of 150 250 mmol/kg liver dry tissue derived from SE show LIC values of 250 300 mmol/kg determined with GRE. A possible explanation for this may be the highly inhomogeneous iron distribution in the liver. Although GRE generally tends to overestimate LIC, both methods are suitable for decisions concerning patient management.