Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review
<p>Background/Objectives Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method for quantifying tissue iron in β-thalasssemia patients. Optimized T2*-weighted MRI provides validated liver and cardiac iron thresholds yet iron burden in other organs remains underexplored. This systematic revi...
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| مؤلفون آخرون: | , , , , , , |
| منشور في: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1864515935749013504 |
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| author | Mustafa M. Almuqbel (6629681) |
| author2 | Sarah Abousrafa (23411353) Waad Omara (22652516) Hadeel Said (22652519) Sondos Akasheh (22652522) Elaf Abdul-Aziz (22652525) Raneem Al-Hamayda (22652528) Ali Al-Radaideh (17930141) |
| author2_role | author author author author author author author |
| author_facet | Mustafa M. Almuqbel (6629681) Sarah Abousrafa (23411353) Waad Omara (22652516) Hadeel Said (22652519) Sondos Akasheh (22652522) Elaf Abdul-Aziz (22652525) Raneem Al-Hamayda (22652528) Ali Al-Radaideh (17930141) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Mustafa M. Almuqbel (6629681) Sarah Abousrafa (23411353) Waad Omara (22652516) Hadeel Said (22652519) Sondos Akasheh (22652522) Elaf Abdul-Aziz (22652525) Raneem Al-Hamayda (22652528) Ali Al-Radaideh (17930141) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Quantitative_MRI_iron_load_assessment_in_-thalassemia_patients_beyond_the_liver_and_heart_A_systematic_review/32076057 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Biomedical and clinical sciences Clinical sciences Health sciences Health services and systems Quantitative MRI β-Thalassemia Iron overload T2* mapping Systemic iron burden |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Text Journal contribution info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion text contribution to journal |
| description | <p>Background/Objectives Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method for quantifying tissue iron in β-thalasssemia patients. Optimized T2*-weighted MRI provides validated liver and cardiac iron thresholds yet iron burden in other organs remains underexplored. This systematic review evaluates current quantitative MRI techniques used to assess iron load in β-thalassemia, emphasizing identifying gaps in organ-specific methodologies. Methods We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science limited to the last 10 years. Studies were included if they employed quantitative MRI to measure iron concentrations in β-thalassemia patients. Extracted data included patient characteristics, MRI sequences, image analysis methods, cut-offs, grading scales, clinical correlations, and measures of diagnostic accuracy. Meta-analysis was not performed due to substantial methodological heterogeneity. Results Twenty-seven studies utilized quantitative MRI to assess iron in organs beyond the heart and liver. Approximately 86% employed T2*-weighted Multi-Echo Gradient Echo sequences, reflecting their widespread acceptance for detecting paramagnetic effects of iron. ROI-based T2* quantification was the predominant image analysis method, applied in 23 studies through mono-exponential fitting of signal decay curves. MRI-derived iron load markers (T2*/R2*) showed significant correlations with endocrine, metabolic dysfunctions and systemic iron burden. Despite promising sensitivity for metabolic outcomes and specificity for endocrine and marrow assessments, diagnostic performance remains only fair to good due to limited and heterogeneous data. Conclusion T2* mapping, remains the non-invasive standard for iron quantification. Future research should prioritize optimizing techniques and standardizing diagnostic thresholds across organs beyond the liver and heart to improve early detection and management of iron-overload-related dysfunctions.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: European Journal of Radiology<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537</a></p> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara2_6fa76582a6a60b3644d118f0f0c13d33 |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara2 |
| network_name_str | Manara2 |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/32076057 |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic reviewMustafa M. Almuqbel (6629681)Sarah Abousrafa (23411353)Waad Omara (22652516)Hadeel Said (22652519)Sondos Akasheh (22652522)Elaf Abdul-Aziz (22652525)Raneem Al-Hamayda (22652528)Ali Al-Radaideh (17930141)Biomedical and clinical sciencesClinical sciencesHealth sciencesHealth services and systemsQuantitative MRIβ-ThalassemiaIron overloadT2* mappingSystemic iron burden<p>Background/Objectives Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method for quantifying tissue iron in β-thalasssemia patients. Optimized T2*-weighted MRI provides validated liver and cardiac iron thresholds yet iron burden in other organs remains underexplored. This systematic review evaluates current quantitative MRI techniques used to assess iron load in β-thalassemia, emphasizing identifying gaps in organ-specific methodologies. Methods We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science limited to the last 10 years. Studies were included if they employed quantitative MRI to measure iron concentrations in β-thalassemia patients. Extracted data included patient characteristics, MRI sequences, image analysis methods, cut-offs, grading scales, clinical correlations, and measures of diagnostic accuracy. Meta-analysis was not performed due to substantial methodological heterogeneity. Results Twenty-seven studies utilized quantitative MRI to assess iron in organs beyond the heart and liver. Approximately 86% employed T2*-weighted Multi-Echo Gradient Echo sequences, reflecting their widespread acceptance for detecting paramagnetic effects of iron. ROI-based T2* quantification was the predominant image analysis method, applied in 23 studies through mono-exponential fitting of signal decay curves. MRI-derived iron load markers (T2*/R2*) showed significant correlations with endocrine, metabolic dysfunctions and systemic iron burden. Despite promising sensitivity for metabolic outcomes and specificity for endocrine and marrow assessments, diagnostic performance remains only fair to good due to limited and heterogeneous data. Conclusion T2* mapping, remains the non-invasive standard for iron quantification. Future research should prioritize optimizing techniques and standardizing diagnostic thresholds across organs beyond the liver and heart to improve early detection and management of iron-overload-related dysfunctions.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: European Journal of Radiology<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537</a></p>2026-01-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112537https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Quantitative_MRI_iron_load_assessment_in_-thalassemia_patients_beyond_the_liver_and_heart_A_systematic_review/32076057CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/320760572026-01-01T00:00:00Z |
| spellingShingle | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review Mustafa M. Almuqbel (6629681) Biomedical and clinical sciences Clinical sciences Health sciences Health services and systems Quantitative MRI β-Thalassemia Iron overload T2* mapping Systemic iron burden |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| title_full | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| title_short | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| title_sort | Quantitative MRI iron load assessment in β-thalassemia patients beyond the liver and heart: A systematic review |
| topic | Biomedical and clinical sciences Clinical sciences Health sciences Health services and systems Quantitative MRI β-Thalassemia Iron overload T2* mapping Systemic iron burden |