Quantitative MRI Analysis of Lacrimal Glands in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Elliott Elias¹, Joseph Liao¹, Memi Watanabe¹, Naoko Saito¹, Hernan Jara¹, Osamu Sakai¹

Purpose: To analyze MR relaxometric and volumetric changes in lacrimal glands in sickle cell disease (SCD) as motivated by a recent case report on lacrimal gland pathology. Materials and Methods: 15 SCD patients (19.8-43.6 yrs) and 23 control subjects (23-64 yrs) were imaged by mixed-TSE sequence at 1.5T. T1, T2, and secular-T2 relaxation time histograms and volumes were analyzed. Results: T2 and secular-T2 relaxation times were significantly shortened in SCD patients, and glandular volumes were increased. No significant differences were observed in T1. Conclusion: Disease specific relaxometric and volumetric were observed in the lacrimal glands of SCD patients.