Can Automated 3-Dimensional Dixon-Based Methods Be Used in Patients With Liver Iron Overload?

Abstract

Accurate quantification of liver iron concentration (LIC) can be achieved via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Maps of liver T2*/R2* are provided by commercially available, vendor-provided, 3-dimensional (3D) multiecho Dixon sequences and allow automated, inline postprocessing, which removes the need for manual curve fitting associated with conventional 2-dimensional (2D) gradient echo (GRE)-based postprocessing. The main goal of our study was to investigate the relationship among LIC estimates generated by 3D multiecho Dixon sequence to values generated by 2D GRE-based R2* relaxometry as the reference standard.