Hepatic iron deposition on MR imaging in patients with chronic liver disease: correlation with serial serum ferritin concentration.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR) imaging grading of iron deposition and serial serum ferritin concentration in patients with chronic viral liver diseases.


METHODS
In 80 patients with viral hepatitis and cirrhosis, MR images including T2*-weighted gradient echo images (echo time > or = 6.5 ms) were reviewed. The grades of parenchymal iron deposition and iron-containing nodules in the liver and spleen and the liver-to-muscle and spleen-to-muscle signal intensity ratios were compared with the most recent, the mean, the lowest, and the highest values from all available serum ferritin levels.


RESULTS
The serum ferritin concentration was significantly correlated with the grades of iron deposition in liver and spleen and with the grades of iron-containing nodules seen on MR images (p < 0.05). Liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio was weakly correlated with the ferritin concentrations. Among categories of ferritin concentration, correlation with MR grades was highest for mean ferritin concentration (r = 0.487, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging grades of hepatic iron and siderotic nodules correlate with serum ferritin, especially with the mean levels.
Kim
M J
MJ
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 1096 Main Building, 132 S 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
Mitchell
D G
DG
Ito
K
K
Hann
H W
HW
Park
Y N
YN
Kim
P N
PN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron