Electronic poster

Tuesday 13:30-15:30 Computer 96

13:30 4634. Comparison of MR Elastography and DWI for Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis

James F. Glockner¹, Christine U. Lee¹, Richard L. Ehman<sup>1

1</sup>Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States

Hepatic MR elastography and DWI with low and intermediate b-values were performed in 29 patients with suspected chronic liver disease. ADC measurements for both b-values demonstrated a negative correlation with hepatic stiffness as determined by MRE. The range of variation of in stiffness values is larger than that of ADC values, suggesting that MRE may be more sensitive to small variations in hepatic stiffness.

14:00 4635. R2* as a Surrogate Measure of Ferriscan® Iron Quantification in Thalassemia

Wesley Calvin Chan¹, Faisel Budhani¹, Zahra Tejani¹, Christine Massey², Masoom A. Haider<sup>1

1</sup>Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; ²Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Monitoring hepatic iron concentration is an important clinical concern in thalassemia patients. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a correlation between R2* relaxation rate and liver iron concentration determined by the FDA approved Ferriscan® method. We found a very strong linear correlation between R2* values and Ferriscan® determined liver iron concentration with the Spearman correlation = 0.976 (95% CI: 0.963, 0.984). The prediction equation from regression analysis was ([Fe])=0.80(R2*)-44.1(r=0.968, r2 = 0.937, p < 0.0001). Determination of liver iron concentration by R2* methods may be helpful as a diagnostic surrogate for Ferriscan® iron measurements.

14:30 4636. Chronic Hepatitis and Fibrosis Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE)

Yi Wang¹, Frank H. Miller¹, Robert McCarthy, Zongming E. Chen, Laura Sternick, Daniel Ganger, Richard Ehman², Reed Omary¹, Josh Levitsky, Bradley D. Bolster, Jr. ³, Saurabh Shah³, Sven Zuehlsdorff³, Paul Nikolaidis¹, Vahid Yaghmai<sup>1

1</sup>Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States; ²Mayo Clinic; ³Siemens Healthcare

We proposed to evaluate the capability of MRE in detecting and distinguishing patients with inflammation and without fibrosis from patients without inflammation and fibrosis, and with various stages of fibrosis based on histopathologic analyses. Liver tissue with inflammation and without fibrosis can be seen with mildly elevated stiffness value on MRE, which was significantly higher than those that lack inflammation and fibrosis. Both mild hepatic fibrosis and inflammation was associated with mild elevation of stiffness, but a significant difference was not observed. Furthermore, tissue with moderate fibrosis and advanced fibrosis to cirrhosis showed significant increased stiffness values on MRE.

15:00 4637. Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Liver Fibrosis in an Experimental Model

Jerry S. Cheung^1,2, Shu Juan Fan^1,2, Darwin Shan Gao^1,2, Kwan Man³, Ed X. Wu<sup>1,2

1</sup>Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; ²Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; ³Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China

Early diagnosis of liver fibrosis could facilitate early interventions and thus alleviate its progression to cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Several studies have shown that measurement of water diffusivity by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was useful in the evaluation of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to characterize longitudinal changes in diffusion properties of liver using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in an experimental model of liver fibrosis. The experimental results in this study demonstrated that DTI could detect longitudinal changes in diffusion properties of liver in an experimental model of liver fibrosis.

Wednesday 13:30-15:30 Computer 96

13:30 4638. Diagnosis of Cirrhosis with MRI: Is Magnetization Transfer Contrast Worth Pursuing?

Andrew B. Rosenkrantz¹, Pippa Storey¹, Ben Niver¹, Cristina Hajdu², Vivian S. Lee<sup>1

1</sup>Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; ²Pathology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States

8 patients with liver cirrhosis and 8 volunteers underwent liver MRI at 1.5T that included repeated applications of an adjustable magnetization-transfer contrast (MTC) sequence, with the MT pre-pulse offset frequency varying from 1000Hz to 3000Hz and the MT pre-pulse flip angle varying from 100º to 900º. The magnetization transfer ratio measured over the right lobe showed substantial overlap between healthy and cirrhotic liver for all assessed MTC sequences, with none of the differences being significant (p-values from 0.092 to 0.819). Our data suggests that, unlike the results of previous studies, MTC imaging is unable to differentiate healthy and cirrhotic liver.

14:00 4639. Breath-Hold Quantitative Liver MR Imaging: Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis, Iron Content, and Fat Fraction

Russell Norman Low^1,2, Huanzhou Yu³, Ann Shimakawa³, Lloyd Estkowski, Richard Ehman<sup>4

1</sup>Sharp and Children's MRI Center, San Diego, CA, United States; ²San Diego Imaging, San Diego, CA, United States; ³Applied Science Lab, General Electric Healthcare; ⁴Mayo Clinic

Quantification of diffuse liver disease adds a new dimension to hepatic MR imaging which can provide critical information for diagnosis and for monitoring response to therapy. We explore the implementation of a rapid breath-hold MR evaluation of liver fibrosis using MR Elastography combined with a new multiecho Dixon technique known as IDEAL Quant which quantifies liver iron assessed by R2* values and fat fraction. In five breath holds this exam assesses liver fibrosis, R2* correlated with iron content, and the percentage of fatty infiltration.

14:30 4640. Background Gradient Correction for Water and Fat Quantification in 2D Liver Imaging

Yoon Ho Nam¹, Hahnsung Kim¹, Dong-Hyun Kim<sup>1,2

1</sup>Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of; ²Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Accurate quantification of the liver fat content is an important factor in detecting hepatic diseases. A multi-echo approach can be used effectively for liver fat quantification. However, the presence of macroscopic field inhomogeneities shortens T2* values and can lead to underestimated T2* values of fat content in liver. This study propose correcting method for these macroscopic inhomogeneities to accurately quantify T2* values and fat, water content using multi-echo 2D liver imaging.

15:00 4641. Quantification of Hepatic Iron Overload: Usefulness of Echo-Planar Imaging Based Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Tatsuyuki Tonan¹, Kiminori Fujimoto¹, Aliya Qayyum², Takumi Kawaguchi³, Atsushi Kawaguchi⁴, Koji Okuda⁵, Shuji Nagata¹, Michio Sata³, Naofumi Hayabuchi<sup>1

1</sup>Radiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan; ²Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; ³Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁴Biostatistics Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan; ⁵Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

MRI is sensitive to tissue iron overload because iron leads to a decline of magnetic resonance signal due to T2-shortening effect related to the paramagnetic properties, and recently has become suitable technique for quantifying hepatic iron overload noninvasively. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of echo-planar image based diffusion- weighted image (EPI-DWI) for quantifying subtle hepatic iron stores. We found a good correlation between EPI-DWI and hepatic iron concentration in patients with viral hepatitis, and demonstrated that EPI-DWI was more sensitive sequence for quantifying hepatic iron overload than gradient-recalled echo sequence.

Thursday 13:30-15:30 Computer 96

13:30 4642. Multislice Multiecho T2* MRI for Detection of the Distribution of Hepatic Iron Overload.

Antonella Meloni¹, Antongiulio Luciani², Alessia Pepe¹, Vincenzo Positano¹, Gennaro Restaino³, Maria Chiara Dell'Amico¹, Brunella Favilli¹, Gianna Alberini¹, Giovanni Palazzi⁴, Massimo Lombardi<sup>1

1</sup>MRI Lab, “G. Monasterio Foundation” and Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy; ²Istituto di Radiologia Az. Osp. "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy; ³Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy; ⁴Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy

The goals of our study were to set up a MRI acquisition technique for the detection of the iron burden in the whole liver of thalassemia major patients. Significant differences in the segmental T2* values were found. Specifically, the mean T2* values over the segments VI and VIII were significantly lower than the mean T2* values over the other segments. However, T2* variations in liver are low and likely due to the artefacts effects and measurement variability.

14:00 4643. Hepatic Lipid Quantification with MRS: BMI, T2, and Prandial Correlations.

Robert D. O'Connor¹, Gary Skolnick², Nicole Nejedly², Adil Bashir¹, Samuel Klein<sup>2

1</sup>Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States; ²Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States

MRS protocols for hepatic lipid quantification are examined. It is concluded that an optimal protocol can achieve a CV of at least 5%.

14:30 4644. Three-Dimensional Two-Point Dixon Acquisition with Projections Onto Convex Sets (POCS) for Abdominal Imaging

Agus Priatna¹, Vamsi Narra<sup>2

1</sup>MR R&D Collaborations, Siemens Healthcare, St Louis, MO, United States; ²Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, United States

Three-dimensional two-point Dixon technique has been routinely used for liver imaging to provide opposed and inphase images, as well as fat only and water only images. Phase partial Fourier and strong echo asymmetry are often employed to reduce the scan time. However, echo asymmetry and phase partial Fourier with zero filling result in blurring artifacts in the in-plane view. This abstract describes the use of phase correction with projection onto convex sets (POCS) to the three dimensional two-point Dixon sequence in order to reduce blurring artifact and improve image quality at short scan times

15:00 4645. Contribution of Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Study of Hepatic Fibrosis: Preliminary Results

Thierry Yzet¹, Roger Bouzerar², Eric Nguyen-Khac³, Brice Robert¹, Denis Chatelain⁴, Hervé Deramond¹, Marc-Etienne Meyer², Olivier Baledent<sup>2

1</sup>Radiology, University Hospital, Amiens, France; ²Imaging and Biophysics, University Hospital, Amiens, France; ³Hepato-Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Amiens, France; ⁴Pathological Cytology, University Hospital, Amiens, France

Hepatic fibrosis is secondary to many etiologies and quantification of this fibrosis is a key point for the clinician. In this work, we wanted to appraise the potential links between elastometry data and parameters measured using PC-MRI in 17 subjects developing hepatic pathologies. Three distinct groups, probably representative of the stage of hepatic fibrosis, clearly appear A statistically significant linear correlation between the elasticity modulus and the vessel area variations DS or the portal congestion index IC is clearly highlighted. PC-MRI could be a useful and complementary tool for the understanding of evolution mechanisms involved in hepatic fibrosis.

Metabolism Liver & Other II

Hall B Monday 14:00-16:00 Computer 97

14:00 4646. Absolute Quantification of Liver Fat by MRI Fat Volume Fractions in Comparison to Histopathology

Michael Alexander Fischer¹, Paul Stolzmann¹, Daniel Nanz¹, Cäcilia S. Reiner¹, Stefan Breitenstein², Matteo Montani³, Borut Marincek¹, Hans Scheffel<sup>1

1</sup>Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; ²Clinic of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; ³Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

A new approach for absolute quantification of liver fat content is presented by calculation of fat volume fractions (FVF-MRI) derived from a single-breathhold 3D spoiled dual gradient-echo MRI sequence yielding for in-/out-of-phase as well as fat-signal only images. Our results show that the absolute liver fat content equalling the actual weight per volume of liver lipid can be quantified accurately by FVF-MRI with surface-coil sensitivity correction compared to fat volume fractions derived from histopathology as the gold standard. Moreover fat-only images significantly reduce the measurement bias as compared to in/out-of-phase images.

14:30 4647. Optimization of a 3D Dixon MR Imaging Techniques for Fat / Water Quantitation

sunder s. rajan¹, David Thomasson², Ronald Ouwerkerk³, songtao liu³, Ahmed m. Gharib<sup>3

1</sup>Div of physics, fda/cdrh/osel, Silver Spring, MD, United States; ²Radiology & Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health, MD; ³National Institute of Digestive and Diabetes and Kidney Diseases

Using a well characterized serial dilution lipid-water phantom we were able to simulate signal intensity results to determine the appropriate range of sequence parameter values over which we could experimentally validate measured lipid-water ratios on existing clinical 2D technique as well as using a recently available 3D Dixon technique.

15:00 4648. Measurements of the Abdominal Fat Area: Comparison with MR and CT Measurements in Medical Check-Ups

Takayuki Masui¹, Motoyuki Katayama¹, Rie Takafuji², T Natume¹, S Nozawa², Hiroki Ikuma¹, Kimihiko Sato¹, Kenji Asano³, Hasnine A. Haque³, M Sugimura¹, S Imamura², Atsushi Nozaki<sup>3

1</sup>Radiology, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan; ²Seirei Kenshin Center, Hamamatsu, Japan; ³GEHC-Japan, Hino, Japan

As one of criteria for metabolic syndrome, measurements of abdominal fat area using CT have been suggested. MEDAL or LAVA flex can provide in-phase and fat images and, modification of these images can be utilized to set threshold to make semiautomatic calculation of fat area. Purpose was with semiautomatic demarcation of fat areas on MR to evaluate correlations between MR and CT measurements for abdominal fat area in subjects having medical check-ups. Good correlation was observed between in MR and CT measurements. CT measurements of abdominal fat can be replaced by MR without irradiation in large population for medical-checkups.

15:30 4649. Hepatic Fat Quantification on 3T MRI Using a Dual-Flip Multi-Echo Sequence with MR Spectroscopy and Histopathologic Correlation

Hero K. Hussain¹, Marko K. Ivancevic, Frank J. Londy, Susan Rohrer, Elif A. Oral, Barbara McKenna, Thomas L. Chenevert

¹University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

The dual-flip multi-echo MRI method at 3T is reliable to measure hepatic fat. It correlates well with MRS and quantitative histopathologic measures, though unlike MRS, offers full-liver mapping of fat content and heterogeneity.

Tuesday 13:30-15:30 Computer 97

13:30 4650. Multislice Multiecho T2* MRI Assessment of Regional Pancreatic Iron Overload and Correlation with Cardiac Biventricular Function and Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia Major Patients.

Gennaro Restaino¹, Antonella Meloni², Alessia Pepe², Vincenzo Positano², Massimiliano Missere¹, Pasquale Pepe², Daniele De Marchi², Giuseppina Secchi³, Antongiulio Luciani⁴, Giuseppina Sallustio¹, Massimo Lombardi<sup>2

1</sup>Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy; ²MRI Lab, “G. Monasterio Foundation” and Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy; ³Azienda USL n° 1, Sassari, Italy; ⁴Istituto di Radiologia Az. Osp. "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy

The aims of this study were to describe the T2* values of the pancreas in patients with TM, to investigate the correlation between pancreatic and myocardial siderosis and to investigate the correlation between pancreatic iron overload and biventricular cardiac function. The mean T2* over the pancreatic head was significantly higher than the mean T2* value over the pancreatic body and tail. Significant positive correlations of the pancreatic T2* were demonstrated for global heart T2* value and number of segments with normal T2*. Moreover, pancreatic iron overload was negatively correlated to biventricular systolic function.

14:00 4651. The Use of Slope-Ratio Methods to Quantify Liver Perfusion from Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Data: Comparison with Perfusion Quantification Using a Dual-Input Single Compartment Model

Keiko Miyazaki¹, Matthew R. Orton¹, James A. d'Arcy¹, Val Lewington², Dow-Mu Koh³, Martin O. Leach¹, David J. Collins<sup>1

1</sup>CR-UK and EPSRC Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom; ²Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom; ³Department of Radiology, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-) MRI is a technique that enables non-invasive interrogation of tissue microvasculature environment. Different analysis approaches can be taken to quantify arterial and portal-venous hepatic perfusion from liver DCE-MRI data. In this study, two slope-ratio methods were used to quantify arterial and portal-venous perfusion from clinical MR data. Comparisons were made with perfusion quantified using a dual-input single compartment model. Perfusion quantified using the slope-ratio methods were found to be lower than those quantified using the dual-input model. High correlations were observed between the two approaches, especially in the estimates of arterial perfusion.

14:30 4652. Does the Measurement of Liver and Vertebral Fat Content Influenced by R2* Effect in T2*-IDEAL: A Comparison Study with 3-Point IDEAL and MRS in Healthy Volunteers

Chun-Jung Juan¹, Hing-Chiu Chang^2,3, Chih-Yung Yu¹, Chang-Hsien Liou¹, Cheng-Yu Chen¹, Chun-Jen Hsueh¹, Hung-Wen Kao¹, Chih-Wei Wang¹, Hsiao-Wen Chung^1,3, Guo-Shu Huang<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; ²Applied Science Laboratory, GE Healthcare Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan; ³Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

By simultaneous acquisition of all echoes in one TR interval, T2* IDEAL is superior to 3-pt IDEAL by allowing either larger spatial coverage or higher resolution. Whether the fat content measured by the T2* IDEAL method is influenced by the R2* effect of tissue or not is an important concern but remains ambiguous. In this study, we verify the fat content measurements of liver (lower R2* value) and vertebra (higher R2* value) in both methods compared to the MRS method. Our results show no statistical difference of liver and vertebral fat content in T2* IDEAL and 3-pt IDEAL methods.

15:00 4653. R2* Measurement Using Absolute SNR-Weighted Least Square Regression

Xiaoming Yin^1,2, Saurabh Shah³, Andrew C. Larson<sup>1,2

1</sup>Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; ²Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, Evanston , IL, United States; ³Siemens Medical Solutions, Chicago, IL, United States

R2* is typically estimated via mono-exponential fitting of signal decay within a series of GRE images combined by the root sum-of-square (RSS) approach. However, RSS approaches rectify and bias noise in later TEs, resulting in systematic fitting errors for R2* estimation. Our work investigated the accuracy of low SNR R2* measurements for RSS reconstructed data. Through phantom, ex vivo, and volunteer studies, we compared the accuracy of R2* measurement using SNR-weighted least-square regression and SNR-based truncation methods. We found SNR-weighted least-square regression to be a simple and reliable approach to reduce R2* measurement error.

Wednesday 13:30-15:30 Computer 97

13:30 4654. Differentiation of T1W Hyperintense Nodules Among Cirrhotic Liver: Comparison of Ferucarbotran-Enhanced MR Imaging with Accumulation Phase FS-T1WI and Gadolinium-Enhanced MR Imaging

Ran-Chou Chen^1,2, Chen-Te Chou<sup>3,4

1</sup>Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, National Yang-Ming Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; ²Radiology, Taipei City Hospital , Taiwan; ³Radiology, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Er-lin branch, Chang-Hua, Taiwan; ⁴Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, National Yang-Ming Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Our study was to evaluate ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI with accumulation-phase fat suppression T1-weighted imaging in comparison with gadolinium-enhanced MRI for characterization of T1W hyperintense nodules within cirrhotic liver. In the gadolinium-enhanced group, the MRI sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 60%, 100% and 73%, respectively. In ferucarbotran-enhanced group, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 100%, 83% and 94%, respectively. The ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI provided additional information of cellular function in differentiation of focal hepatic lesion and ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI is superior to gadolinium-enhanced MRI in characterization of T1W hyperintense nodules. T1W hyperintense nodule depicting hyperintense on ferucarbotran-enhanced accumulation-phase FS-T1WI should be investigated aggressively.

14:00 4655. Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Elastography in the Evaluation of Liver Donors

Tilina Hu¹, Alvin Silva¹, Leland Hu¹, Richard Ehman<sup>2

1</sup>Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States; ²Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States

To determine accurate biopsy-validated Magnetic Resonance Elastography threshold values that distinguish normal from abnormal liver (due to fibrosis and/or inflammation). We focus specifically on pre-operative evaluation of liver donors prior to transplant.

14:30 4656. DTI and 2D MR Spectroscopy of Hepatitis C in 3T

Rajakumar Nagarajan¹, Manoj K. Sarma¹, Charles Hinkin², Steven Castellon², Jason P. Smith³, Homayoon Khanlou⁴, Laveeza Bhatti⁴, Jonathan Truong⁵, Ann B. Ragin⁶, Elyse Singer⁷, M Albert Thomas<sup>1

1</sup>Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; ²Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States; ³Veteran's Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare Center; ⁴AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Westside Clinic, Los Angeles; ⁵Kaiser Permanente, Lancaster CA; ⁶Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; ⁷Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV infection sometimes results in an acute illness, but most often becomes a chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Hepatitis C may be detectable with MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which is exquisitely sensitive to water diffusion and is used to quantify the magnitude of diffusivity and the orientation and linearity (that is, anisotropy) of water motility in microstructural level in brain. Combining two-dimensional (2D) localized correlated spectroscopic (L-COSY) technique with DTI provides more information about the cerebral metabolites, mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy changes in patients with hepatitis C.

15:00 4657. Estimation of Liver Iron Content with Different MRI Methods

Arthur Peter Wunderlich¹, Holger Cario², Mathias Schmid³, Markus Juchems<sup>1

1</sup>Dept. for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; ²Pediatrics, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany; ³Hematology, Univ.-Clinic Ulm, Ulm, Germany

To compare the liver iron content (LIC) determined by different MR methods, we investigated 93 patients with protocols according to three published methods, two using gradient echo (GRE) sequences and one working with spin echo (SE). The methods correlate moderately with r=0.82. Weakpoints are the bad performance of one GRE method near its upper limit and the sensitivity to liver steatosis of the GRE method addressing high LIC. The latter leads to reduced correlation of SE vs. GRE in the high LIC range. Although GRE generally tends to overestimate LIC, both methods are suitable for decisions concerning patient management.