Multicenter validation of the magnetic resonance T2* technique for segmental and global quantification of myocardial iron.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the transferability of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) multislice multiecho T2(*) technique for global and segmental measurement of iron overload in thalassemia patients.


METHODS
Multiecho T2(*) sequences were installed on six MRI scanners. Five healthy subjects (n = 30) were scanned at each site; five thalassemia major (TM) patients were scanned at the reference site and were rescanned locally (n = 25) within 1 month. T2(*) images were analyzed using previously validated software.


RESULTS
T2(*) values of healthy subjects showed intersite homogeneity. On TM patients, for global heart T2(*) values the correlation coefficient was 0.97, coefficients of variation (CoV(s)) ranged from 0.04-0.12, and intraclass coefficients (ICC(s)) ranged from 0.94-0.99. The mean CoV and ICC for segmental T2(*) distribution were 0.198 and 88, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The multislice multiecho T2(*) technique is transferable among scanners with good reproducibility.
Ramazzotti
Anna
A
MRI Laboratory, G Monasterio Foundation and Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.
Pepe
Alessia
A
Positano
Vincenzo
V
Rossi
Giuseppe
G
De Marchi
Daniele
D
Brizi
Maria Gabriella
MG
Luciani
Antongiulio
A
Midiri
Massimo
M
Sallustio
Giuseppina
G
Valeri
Gianluca
G
Caruso
Vincenzo
V
Centra
Michele
M
Cianciulli
Paolo
P
De Sanctis
Vincenzo
V
Maggio
Aurelio
A
Lombardi
Massimo
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007558:Italy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000378:metabolism*
D007501:Iron