OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of quantifying liver iron concentration (LIC) in patients with thalassemia (TM) using 1.5T and 3T T MRI.
Methods: 1.5T MRI T values were measured in 391 TM patients from three medical centers: the T values of the test group were combined with the LIC (LIC) provided by FerriScan to construct the curve equation. In addition, the liver 3T MRI liver T data of 55 TM patients were measured as the 3T group: the curve equation of 3T T value and LIC was constructed.
Results: Based on the test group LIC (0.6-43 mg/g dw) and the corresponding 1.5T T value, the equation was LIC = 37.393(-1.22) (R = 0.971; < 0.001). There was no significant difference between LIC and LIC in each validation group ( = -1.269, -0.977, -1.197; = 0.204, 0.328, 0.231). There was significant consistency (Kendall's = 0.991, 0.985, 0.980; all < 0.001) and high correlation (r = 0.983, 0.971, 0.960; all < 0.001) between the two methods. There was no significant difference between the clinical grading results of LIC and LIC in each validation group (χ = 3.0, 4.0, 2.0; = 0.083, 0.135, 0.157), and there was significant consistency between the clinical grading results (Kappa's K = 0.943, 0.891, 0.953; < 0.001). There was no statistical correlation between the LIC (≥14 mg/g dw) and the 3T T value of severe iron overload ( = 0.085). The LIC (2-14 mg/g dw) in mild and moderate iron overload was significantly correlated with the corresponding T value (r = -0.940; < 0.001). The curve equation constructed from LIC and corresponding 3T T values in this range is LIC = 18.463T∧ (R = 0.889; < 0.001). There was no significant difference between LIC and LIC in the mild to moderate range (Z = -0.523; = 0.601), and there was a significant correlation (r = 0.940; < 0.001) and significant consistency (Kendall's = 0.970; = 0.008) between them. LIC had high diagnostic efficiency in the diagnosis of severe, moderate, and mild liver iron overload (specificity = 1.000, 0.909; sensitivity = 0.972, 1.000).
Conclusion: The liver iron concentration can be accurately quantified based on the 1.5T T value of the liver and the specific LIC-T curve equation. 3T T technology can accurately quantify mild-to-moderate LIC, but it is not recommended to use 3T T technology to quantify higher iron concentrations.