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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Measurement of Tumor T2* Relaxation Times after Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Administration
Published on: May 19, 2023
Comparison between different software programs and post-processing techniques for the MRI quantification of liver
Lorenzo Bacigalupo1, Francesco Paparo2, Daniele Zefiro3
1Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Mura delle Cappuccine 14, 16128, Genoa, Italy. lorenzo.bacigalupo@galliera.it.
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.
