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Abstract #0087

Quantitative Ultra-short Echo Time Imaging for Massive Iron Overload Assessment: A Way to Make It Happen

Axel J. Krafft 1,2 , Ralf B. Loeffler 1 , Ruitian Song 1 , Mary E. McCarville 1 , Matthew D. Robson 3 , Jane S. Hankins 4 , and Claudia M. Hillenbrand 1

1 Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States, 2 Radiology - Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany, 3 Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, 4 Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States

Iron overload requires accurate assessment of hepatic iron content (HIC) which can be achieved via R2*-MRI using multi-echo gradient echo (mGRE) imaging. The precision in previous R2*-HIC studies is compromised for high HIC (> 20 mg Fe/g) as conventional mGRE techniques fail due to the rapid T2* signal decay. This limitation could be overcome using 2D ultra-short echo time (UTE) imaging which is, however, sensitive to various system imperfections hampering quantitative MRI. We describe a 2D UTE sequence that allows for precise R2* quantification for detection of iron overload. The sequence was evaluated in phantoms and in vivo.

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