Hepatic iron deposition on MR imaging in patients with chronic liver disease: correlation with serial serum ferritin concentration

Background: To evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR) im aging grading of iron deposition and serial serum ferritin concentration in patients with chronic viral liver diseases. Methods: In 80 patients with viral hepatitis and cirrhosis, MR images inclu ding T2*-weighted gradient echo images (echo time greater than or equal to 6.5 ms) were reviewed. The grades of parenchymal iron deposition and iron-c ontaining nodules in the liver and spleen and the liver-to-muscle and splee n-to-muscle signal intensity ratios were compared with the most recent, the mean, the lowest, and the highest values from all available serum ferritin levels. Results: The serum ferritin concentration was significantly correlated with the grades of iron deposition in liver and spleen and with the grades of i ron-containing nodules seen on MR images (p < 0.05). Liver-tomuscle signal intensity ratio was weakly correlated with the ferritin concentrations. Amo ng categories of ferritin concentration, correlation with MR grades was hig hest for mean ferritin concentration (r = 0.487, p < 0.001). Conclusion: MR imaging grades of hepatic iron and siderotic nodules correla te with serum ferritin, especially with the mean levels.