Noise-corrected R2* estimation using 3D multi-gradient-echo Dixon for hepatic iron overload: Comparisons with 2D multi-gradient-echo sequences

Different combinations of acquisition and postprocessing for R2* estimation were compared: 3D multi-gradient-echo Dixon vs. 2D multi-gradient-echo, with/without fat saturation (FS); noise-corrected (NC) vs. fat-and-noise-corrected (FNC) fitting. Twenty patients suspected of hepatic iron overload, but not having steatosis, were included. 3D_NC_R2* showed excellent agreement with 2D_NC_R2*. Up to medium R2*, this held also for 3D_FNC_R2* vs. 2D_NC_R2*; at high R2*, fat modeling reduced R2*. 2DFS_NC_R2* was also reduced. R2* standard deviation was lowest in 3D_FNC, and highest in 2DFS_NC. 3D multi-echo Dixon with noise correction is a promising technique for whole-liver iron quantification, but further analyses are necessary.