Determination of liver iron concentration by magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) is becoming the new technique of choice for the diagnosis of iron
overload in hereditary haemochromatosis and other liver iron surcharge
diseases. Determination of hepatic iron concentration obtained by liver
biopsy has been the gold standard for years. The development of MRI
techniques, via signal intensity ratio methods or relaxometry, has provided
a non-invasive and more accurate approach to the diagnosis of liver iron
overload.
This article reviews the available MRI methods for the determination of liver
iron concentration and also evaluates the technique for the diagnosis and
quantification of iron overload in different clinical practice scenarios.