title: MR imaging of spleen in beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Splenomegaly and splenic siderosis are well-known findings in beta-thalassemia major. We explored the relation between splenic size, splenic and hepatic siderosis in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemic patients, assessed by MR imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal MR imaging studies of 47 consecutive thalassemic patients and 10 healthy subjects, used as controls, were retrospectively reviewed. The signal intensity ratios of spleen and liver to the right paraspinous muscle (S/M, L/M, respectively) were calculated on T1, intermediate, and T2*-weighted gradient-echo sequences, splenic volume was estimated on axial images and serum ferritin levels were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased S/M on all MR sequences was displayed in 36 patients. Six patients presented with normal S/M on all MR sequences and 5 patients displayed splenic hypointensity only on T2* sequence. No correlation between S/M and L/M was found whereas both L/M and S/M correlated with serum ferritin (P < 0.03). Splenic volume correlated to L/M (P < 0.05) but not to S/M values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia, iron deposition in spleen cannot be predicted by the degree of hepatic siderosis, whereas splenomegaly relates to liver, but not splenic, iron overload. MR imaging can be a valuable tool in elucidating iron kinetics.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Radiology, Attikon Hospital, Athens, 12464, Greece. olypapak@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Olympia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Drakonaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maris
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Unit, "Aghios Georgios" Hospital of Chania, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Artemis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasiliadou
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Unit, "Venizelion" Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gourtsoyiannis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Iron; Liver; MR imaging; Spleen; Thalassemia