Arthur Peter
Wunderlich1, Holger Cario2, Mathias Schmid3,
Markus Juchems1
1Dept. for Diagnostic and Interventional
Radiology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany; 2Pediatrics,
Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany; 3Hematology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm,
Ulm, Germany
To
compare the liver iron content (LIC) determined by different MR methods, we
investigated 93 patients with protocols according to three published methods,
two using gradient echo (GRE) sequences and one working with spin echo (SE).
The methods correlate moderately with r=0.82. Weakpoints are the bad
performance of one GRE method near its upper limit and the sensitivity to
liver steatosis of the GRE method addressing high LIC. The latter leads to
reduced correlation of SE vs. GRE in the high LIC range. Although GRE
generally tends to overestimate LIC, both methods are suitable for decisions
concerning patient management.
Keywords