International reproducibility of single breathhold T2* MR for cardiac and liver iron assessment among five thalassemia centers

Purpose: To examine the reproducibility of the single breathhold T2* technique fromdifferent scanners, after installation of standardmethodology in five international centers. Materials and Methods: Up to 10 patients from each center were scanned twice locally for local interstudy reproducibility of heart and liver T2*, and then flown to a central MR facility to be rescanned on a reference scanner for intercenter reproducibility. Interobserver reproducibility for all scans was also assessed. Results: Of the 49 patients scanned, the intercenter reproducibility for T2* was 5.9% for the heart and 5.8% for the liver. Local interstudy reproducibility for T2* was 7.4% for the heart and 4.6% for the liver. Interobserver reproducibility for T2* was 5.4% for the heart and 4.4% for the liver. Conclusion: These data indicate that T2* MR may be developed into a widespread test for tissue siderosis providing that well-defined and approved imaging and analysis techniques are used. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex