Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI) for the Assessment of Iron Loading in the Brain of Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients

Deqiang Qiu¹, Godfrey CF Chan², Queenie Chan³, Sau-Yin Ha², Pek-Lan Khong¹

Brain iron loading was evaluated in a group of thalassemia beta-major patients using susceptibility weighted imaging and compared with normal healthy volunteers. Age and gender effects were found in normal subjects. A wide range of iron concentration was indicated in the patient group with some showing higher phase value and some lower phase value in brain regions than normal. Significantly different phase value was found among patients receiving different iron chelation agents. SWI is sensitive in measuring iron concentration in the brain and provide a valuable tool for iron assessment both for clinical trials and for individual evaluation.