Improving Detection of Iron Deposition in Cirrhotic Liver Using Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging With Emphasis on Histopathological Correlation

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for detection and quantification of iron deposition in cirrhotic liver. Methods: Fifty-five cirrhotic patients underwent hepatic magnetic resonance imaging examination including SWI and multiecho T2*-weighted imaging (T2*WI). Detection of iron deposition and number of siderotic nodules were compared between SWI and T2*WI. Correlation among SWI phase value, T2*value, and hepatic iron concentration were determined. Results: Susceptibility-weighted imaging significantly improved detection of iron deposition compared with T2*WI (90.7% vs 66.7%, P = 0.002), attributing to grade 1 (73.3% vs 26.7%, P = 0.027) and grade 2 (93.8% vs 56.3%, P = 0.037). Iron deposition of grade 3 and 4 could be detected by both SWI and T2*WI. The number of siderotic nodules visualized on SWI was significantly larger than that on T2*WI (107.5 +/- 7.4 vs 62.7 +/- 4.6, P = 0.002). There were significantly negative correlation between phase value and iron score (r = -0.803), and positive correlation between phase value and T2*value (r = 0.771). Conclusions: Susceptibility-weighted imaging can improve detection of minimal and mild iron deposition in cirrhotic liver.