title: R2* as a surrogate measure of ferriscan iron quantification in thalassemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether R2* values are a consistent predictor of hepatic iron concentration (HIC) in thalassemia patients by demonstrating a correlation between R2* relaxation rates and FerriScan-determined HIC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients with thalassemia major were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent FerriScan imaging and multiecho gradient echo imaging. The results from FerriScan analysis were fitted against R2* estimates using linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a very strong linear correlation between R2* values and FerriScan-determined HIC (Spearman correlation of 0.976; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.963, 0.984).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  R2* values can predict HIC determined by FerriScan using a linear calibration curve. This technique may provide a potentially cost-saving alternative for hepatic iron determination and improve acceptance by referring physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada.
authors.forename: Wesley C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tejani
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Budhani
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Masoom A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007501:Iron; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: iron overload; liver; magnetic resonance imaging; thalassemia