Multicenter validation of the magnetic resonance T2* technique for segmental and global quantification of myocardial iron

PURPOSE: To assess the transferability of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) multislice multiecho T2(*) technique for global and segmental measurement of iron overload in thalassemia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiecho T2(*) sequences were installed on six MRI scanners. Five healthy subjects (n = 30) were scanned at each site; five thalassemia major (TM) patients were scanned at the reference site and were rescanned locally (n = 25) within 1 month. T2(*) images were analyzed using previously validated software. RESULTS: T2(*) values of healthy subjects showed intersite homogeneity. On TM patients, for global heart T2(*) values the correlation coefficient was 0.97, coefficients of variation (CoV(s)) ranged from 0.04-0.12, and intraclass coefficients (ICC(s)) ranged from 0.94-0.99. The mean CoV and ICC for segmental T2(*) distribution were 0.198 and 88, respectively. CONCLUSION: The multislice multiecho T2(*) technique is transferable among scanners with good reproducibility. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.