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Protocol - Determination of Liver Iron Concentration by Ferriscan

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Description

This protocol includes a brief background describing how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to determine the concentration of iron in the liver and provides references for quantifying liver iron by Ferriscan (MRI R2). 

Specific Instructions

The choice of quantifying liver iron by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) R2* or by Ferriscan (MRI R2) depends on the expertise and equipment available to investigators.

The Sickle Cell Disease Curative Therapies Working Group recommends that participants with a liver iron concentration greater than 10 milligrams per gram by MRI should be assessed for liver fibrosis by liver biopsy, magnetic resonance elastography, or transient elastography.

Availability

Available

Protocol

Description of Quantification of Liver Iron by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI indirectly visualizes iron by imaging water protons as they diffuse near iron deposits. In tissues with significant iron concentrations, the magnetic iron deposits destroy the homogeneity of the magnetic field. Water protons moving through these significantly different magnetic profiles become desynchronized from one another causing the MRI image to darken at a rate proportional to the iron concentration.

MRI images for determination of iron content are generated by refocusing the desynchronized water protons either by a radio-frequency (rf) pulse, termed a spin echo, or by an additional magnetic field known as a gradient, termed a gradient echo. The longer the echo times (TE), the darker the images. The decline in image intensity is characterized by a half-life time constant, known as T2 if a spin echo is used, or T2* if a gradient echo is used. The reciprocal of the time constant, or the rate of image darkening, is known as R2 (reciprocal of T2) or R2* (reciprocal of T2*).

Quantifying Liver Iron by Ferriscan (MRI R2)

A description of MR studies for the determination of liver iron by R2 can be found in St Pierre et al., 2004. Briefly, MR scans are performed on a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Axial image slices through the liver are acquired in breathing subjects with a single-spin-echo pulse sequence with a pulse repetition time of 2500 milliseconds and spin-echo times ranging from 6 to 18 milliseconds. Images are then sent to a commercial laboratory for processing using proprietary Ferriscan software.

Personnel and Training Required

A trained magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technician is required to administer the MRI, and MRIs must be processed by proprietary Ferriscan software at a licensed laboratory.

Equipment Needs

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine with a field strength of 1.5 Tesla and spin-echo sequence with a minimum echo time of 6 milliseconds.

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment Yes
Specialized training Yes
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual Yes
Mode of Administration

Complex instrumentation-based assessment

Lifestage

Adolescent, Adult, Senior

Participants

Ages 9 and older

Selection Rationale

MRI is a non-invasive, valid, and reliable method that has been used to quantify liver iron content in National Institutes of Health–funded clinical trials.

Language

English

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

St. Pierre, T. G., et al. Single spin-echo proton transverse relaxometry of iron-loaded liver. NMR Biomedicine, 2004

Source

Principles of Iron Estimation by MRI and Discussion of the Technical Considerations Necessary for Accurate Measurements

Wood, J. C., & Ghugre, N. (2008). Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of excess iron in thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and other iron overload diseases. Hemoglobin, 32(1–2), 85–96.

Quantifying Liver Iron by MRI R2

St. Pierre, T. G., Clark, P. R., & Chua-anusorn, W. (2004). Single spin-echo proton transverse relaxometry of iron-loaded liver. NMR in Biomedicine, 17(7), 446–458.

General References

American College of Radiology. (2019). ACR-AAPM technical standard for diagnostic medical physics performance monitoring of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/MR-Equip.pdf

American College of Radiology. (2020). ACR-SAR-SPR practice parameter for the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver (Res. 27). https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/MR-Liver.pdf

Gandon, Y., Olivie, D., Guyader, D., Aube, C., Oberti, F., Sebille, V., & Deugnier, Y. (2004). Non-invasive assessment of hepatic iron stores by MRI. The Lancet, 363, 357–362.

St. Pierre, T. G., Clark, P. R., Chua-anusom, W., Fleming, A. J., Jeffrey, G. P., Olynyk, J. K., Pootrakul, P., Robins, E., & Lindeman, R. (2005). Noninvasive measurement and imaging of liver iron concentration using proton magnetic resonance. Blood, 105(2), 855–861.

Wood, J. C. (2017). The use of MRI to monitor iron overload in SCD. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases, 67, 120–125.

Wood, J. C., Cohen, A. R., Pressel, S. L., Aygun, B., Imran, H., Luchtman-Jones, L., Thompson, A. A., Fuh, B., Schultz, W. H., Davis, B. R., Ware, R. E., & TWiTCH Investigators. (2016) Organ iron accumulation in chronically transfused children with sickle cell anaemia: baseline results from the TWiTCH trial. British Journal of Haematology, 172(1), 122–130.

Wood, J. C., Pressel, S., Rogers, Z. R., Odame, I., Kwiatkowski, J. L., Lee, M. T., Owen, W. C., Cohen, A. R., St. Pierre, T., Heeney, M. M., Schultz, W. H., Davis, B. R., Ware, R. E. (2015). Liver iron concentration measurements by MRI in chronically transfused children with sickle cell anemia: baseline results from the TWiTCH trial. American Journal of Hematology, 90(9):806-10.

Protocol ID

851202

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX851202_Determination_Liver_Iron_Concentration_Ferriscan_Axial_Image_Slices
PX851202020000 Were axial image slices through the liver more
acquired in breathing subjects with a single-spin-echo pulse sequence with a pulse repetition time of 2500 milliseconds and spin-echo times ranging from 6 to 18 milliseconds? show less
N/A
PX851202_Determination_Liver_Iron_Concentration_Ferriscan_Magnetic_Resonance_Imaging_Ferriscan
PX851202030000 Were MRI images sent to a commercial more
laboratory for processing using Ferriscan software? show less
N/A
PX851202_Determination_Liver_Iron_Concentration_Ferriscan_Magnetic_Resonance_Imaging_Tesla_Scanner
PX851202010000 Were magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans more
performed on a 1.5 Tesla scanner? show less
N/A
SCD Curative Therapies
Measure Name

Noninvasive Determination of Liver Iron Concentration

Release Date

August 16, 2021

Definition

Noninvasive quantification of iron in the liver using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Purpose

Chronic red blood cell transfusions can lead to accumulation of toxic iron levels in the liver, heart, and endocrine organs. The concentration of iron in the liver reflects total iron in the body, and elevated liver iron is a risk factor for liver fibrosis and cardiac disease.

Keywords

Liver, heart, Endocrine, iron overload, iron

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
851201 Determination of Liver Iron Concentration by R2*
851202 Determination of Liver Iron Concentration by Ferriscan
Publications

There are no publications listed for this protocol.