Feasibility, reproducibility, and reliability for the T*₂ iron evaluation at 3 T in comparison with 1.5 T

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the feasibility, reproducibility, and reliability of the multiecho T*2 Magnetic resonance imaging technique at 3 T for myocardial and liver iron burden quantification and the relationship between T*2 values at 3 and 1.5 T. Thirty-eight transfusion-dependent patients and 20 healthy subjects were studied. Cardiac segmental and global T*2 values were calculated after developing a correction map to compensate the artifactual T*2 variations. The hepatic T*2 value was determined over a region of interest. The intraoperator and interoperator reproducibility for T*2 measurements at 3 T was good. A linear relationship was found between patients' R?*2 (1000/T*2) values at 3 and 1.5 T. Segmental correction factors were significantly higher at 3 T. A conversion formula returning T*2 values at 1.5 T from values at 3 T was proposed. A good diagnostic reliability for T*2 assessment at 3 T was demonstrated. Lower limits of normal for 3 T T*2 values were 23.3 ms, 21.1 ms, and 11.7 ms, for the global heart, mid-ventricular septum, and liver, respectively. In conclusion, T*2 quantification of iron burden in the mid-ventricular septum, global heart, and no heavymoderate livers resulted to be feasible, reproducible, and reliable at 3 T. Segmental heart T*2 analysis at 3 T may be challenging due to significantly higher susceptibility artifacts

Accurate simultaneous quantification of liver steatosis and iron overload in diffuse liver diseases with MRI

“…The R2* values given in this study cannot be extrapolated to 1.5 T magnets. Higher susceptibility artifacts on 3 T magnets [39] result in lower thresholds for the maximum iron burden quantification at this filed strength, due to T2*-shortening effect [2,40]. Although the repeatability of our MECSE-MR sequence was not evaluated, similar approaches have been found to have extremely high intra-and inter-examination PDFF estimation repeatability [41,42].…”

Cardiovascular Function and Treatment in β-Thalassemia Major

“…T2* values at 3T are shorter than at 1.5 T, 125,126 and the potential for artifacts is greater. In view of the importance of the measurement of myocardial T2* and the very limited clinical experience at 3T, we recommend that all clinical T2* MR be performed at 1.5 T.…”

Accelerating MR Imaging Liver Steatosis Measurement Using Combined Compressed Sensing and Parallel Imaging: A Quantitative Evaluation

“…Also, a different method of quantitative analysis involving concentration on fat fraction variance in three small regions of interest on two central image sections precludes direct comparison with our prospective study with large (range, 35.3-56.9 sec 21 ) was not indicative of severe iron overload when compared with other measurements at 3.0 T, where 85 sec 21 has been suggested as the threshold of abnormal iron content, corresponding to an iron content of 1.4 mg/g (28,29).…”