R2* imaging of transfusional iron burden at 3T and comparison with 1.5T

To determine normative R2* values in the liver and heart at 3T, and establish the relationship between R2* at 3T and 1.5T over a range of tissue iron concentrations.

A total of 20 healthy control subjects and 14 transfusion-dependent patients were scanned at 1.5T and 3T. At each field strength R2* imaging was performed in the liver and heart.

Normative R2* values in the liver were estimated from the control group to be 39.2 +/- 9.0 second(-1) at 1.5T and 69.1 +/- 21.9 second(-1) at 3T. Normative cardiac values were estimated as 23.4 +/- 2.2 second(-1) at 1.5T and 30.0 +/- 3.7 second(-1) at 3T. The combined R2* data from patients and control subjects exhibited a linear relationship between 3T and 1.5T. In the liver, the line of best fit to the 3T vs. 1.5T data had a slope of 2.00 +/- 0.06 and an intercept of -11 +/- 4 second(-1). In the heart, it had a slope of 1.88 +/- 0.14 and an intercept of -15 +/- 4 second(-1).

These preliminary data suggest that the iron-dependent component of R2* scales linearly with field strength over a wide range of tissue iron concentrations. The incidence of susceptibility artifacts may, however, also increase with field strength.