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Liver iron concentration quantification by MRI: are recommended protocols accurate enough for clinical practice?

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the accuracy of quantification of liver iron concentration (LIC) by MRI using the Rennes University (URennes) algorithm.

Methods

In the overall study period 1999–2006  the LIC in 171 patients was calculated with the URennes model and the results were compared with LIC measured by liver biopsy.

Results

The biopsy showed that 107 patients had no overload, 38 moderate overload and 26 high overload. The correlation between MRI and biopsy was r = 0.86. MRI correctly classified 105 patients according to the various levels of LIC. Diagnostic accuracy was 61.4%, with a tendency to overestimate overload: 43% of patients with no overload were diagnosed as having overload, and 44.7% of patients with moderate overload were diagnosed as having high overload. The sensitivity of the URennes method for high overload was 92.3%, and the specificity for the absence of overload was 57.0%. MRI values greater than 170 μmol Fe/g revealed a positive predictive value (PPV) for haemochromatosis of 100% (n = 18); concentrations below 60 μmol Fe/g had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% for haemochromatosis (n = 101). The diagnosis in 44 patients with intermediate values remained uncertain.

Conclusions

The assessment of LIC with the URennes method was useful in 74.3% of the patients to rule out or to diagnose high iron overload. The method has a tendency to overestimate overload, which limits its diagnostic performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Service, Mendaro Hospital, Mendaro, Spain

    Agustin Castiella & Eva Mª Zapata

  2. Radiology Service, Osatek Donostia, Paseo Dr. Beguiristain, Donostia, Spain

    Jose M. Alústiza

  3. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Donostia Hospital CASPe, CIBER-ESP, Donostia, Spain

    Jose I. Emparanza

  4. Gastroenterology Service, Principe de Asturias Hospital, Alcala de Henares, Spain

    Belen Costero

  5. Radiology Service, Principe de Asturias Hospital, Alcala de Henares, Spain

    Maria I. Díez

Authors
  1. Agustin Castiella
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  2. Jose M. Alústiza
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  3. Jose I. Emparanza
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  4. Eva Mª Zapata
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  5. Belen Costero
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  6. Maria I. Díez
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Correspondence to Jose M. Alústiza.

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Castiella, A., Alústiza, J.M., Emparanza, J.I. et al. Liver iron concentration quantification by MRI: are recommended protocols accurate enough for clinical practice?. Eur Radiol 21, 137–141 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1899-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1899-z

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