Hepatic iron deposition on magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with inflammatory activity.
OBJECTIVE
To define the relation between pathologic inflammatory activity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grades of iron deposition in patients with liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
In 53 patients with biopsy-proven liver cirrhosis, T2*-weighted gradient echo MRI (echo time > or =6 milliseconds) was reviewed. Grading of parenchymal iron deposition and siderotic nodules in the liver and liver-to-skeletal muscle signal intensity ratios were compared with pathologically defined inflammatory activity.


RESULTS
The MRI grade of hepatic siderotic nodules correlated significantly with the grade of periportal inflammation (r = 0.301, P < 0.05) but not with the grade of piecemeal necrosis. The grade of parenchymal iron deposition was not correlated with the grade of periportal inflammation or piecemeal necrosis. There was a nonsignificant trend toward correlation between the histologic grade of hepatic iron content and the grades of periportal inflammation and piecemeal necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI grading of siderotic nodules correlates with inflammatory activity in cirrhotic patients.
Kim
Myeong-Jin
MJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-ku Shinchon-dong 134, Seoul, Republic of Korea 120-752. kimnex@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Mitchell
Donald G
DG
Ito
Katsuyoshi
K
Kim
Joo Hee
JH
Pasqualin
Denise
D
Rubin
Raphael
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index