A single breath-hold multiecho T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance technique for diagnosis of myocardial iron overload

Purpose: To assess tissue iron concentrations by the use of a gradient echo T2* multiecho technique.

Materials and methods: We compared the results of measurements of heart T2* from 32 patients using the established multiple breath-hold variable TR technique with a new multiecho sequence that acquires all images within a single breath-hold with constant TR.

Results: There was good agreement of myocardial T2* values between both methods in the abnormal range of T2* < 20 msec (mean difference 0.2 msec, 95% CI -1.3 to 0.9 msec, r = 0.97, P < 0.0001). The coefficient of variability between the methods was 3.5%. The interstudy reproducibility using the multiecho sequence had a variability coefficient of 2.3% in the abnormal T2* range and 5.8% over all T2* values. There was good agreement between the techniques for the liver T2* values.

Conclusions: The use of the single breath-hold, multiecho acquisition allowed reliable quantification of myocardial T2*. The good reproducibility, speed, and T1 independence of this technique allows greater accuracy, faster patient throughput, and, therefore, reduced costs (which is important in developing countries where thalassemia is most prevalent).