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Comparison between different software programs and post-processing techniques for the MRI quantification of liver iron concentration in thalassemia patients

  • ABDOMINAL RADIOLOGY
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Abstract

Purpose

In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxometry, various software programs are available to perform R2* measurements and to estimate the liver iron concentration (LIC). The main objective of our study was to compare R2* LIC values, obtained with three different software programs based on specific decay models and calibration curves, with LIC estimates provided by R2-relaxometry (FerriScan).

Methods

This retrospective study included 15 patients with 15 baseline MRIs and 34 serial examinations. R2* LIC estimates were calculated using the FuncTool, CMRtools/Thalassemia Tools and Quanta Hematology programs. Longitudinal LIC changes (ΔLIC) were calculated using the subset of 34 serial MRIs.

Results

After Bland–Altman analysis on baseline data, Quanta Hematology, which employs the monoexponential-plus-constant fit, produced the lowest mean difference [0.01 ± 0.14 log(mg/gdw)] with the closest limits of agreement. In the longitudinal setting, Quanta Hematology again gave the lowest mean difference between R2 and R2* LIC (0.1 ± 2.6 mg/gdw). Using FerriScan as reference, the value of concordant directional ΔLIC changes was the same for all programs (27/34, 85.7 %).

Conclusions

R2* LICs are higher than R2 LICs at iron levels <7 mg/gdw, while R2 LIC averages higher than R2* LIC with increasing iron load. The monoexponential-plus-constant model provided the best agreement with R2 LIC estimates.

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Acknowledgments

No funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128, Genoa, Italy

    Lorenzo Bacigalupo, Francesco Paparo, Luca Cevasco & Gian Andrea Rollandi

  2. Department of Medical Physics, ASL n.5 “Spezzino”, Via XXIV Maggio 139, 19124, La Spezia, Italy

    Daniele Zefiro

  3. Medical Physics Unit, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128, Genoa, Italy

    Carlo Maria Viberti & Barbara Gianesin

  4. Microcitemia and Hereditary Anaemias Unit, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128, Genoa, Italy

    Valeria Maria Pinto & Gian Luca Forni

  5. Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    John C. Wood

Authors
  1. Lorenzo Bacigalupo
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  2. Francesco Paparo
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  8. Gian Andrea Rollandi
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  9. John C. Wood
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  10. Gian Luca Forni
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Correspondence to Lorenzo Bacigalupo.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Bacigalupo, L., Paparo, F., Zefiro, D. et al. Comparison between different software programs and post-processing techniques for the MRI quantification of liver iron concentration in thalassemia patients. Radiol med 121, 751–762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-016-0661-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-016-0661-2

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