Proton transverse relaxation rate ( R 2 ) images of iron‐loaded liver tissuepping local tissue iron concentrations with MRI

Proton transverse relaxation rate ( R 2 ) imaging measurements were made on post mortem iron‐loaded human liver tissue samples (both intact and dissected into approximately 1‐cm cubes) from a single subject. Iron concentrations for the dissected samples as measured by atomic absorption spectrometry varied from 10.8 to 23.3 mg Fe.g −1 dry tissue. A significant linear correlation between the mean R 2 and iron concentration of each sample was found (r = 0.95). In addition, regions of liver tissue with micronodular cirrhosis exhibited lower R 2 values, corresponding to the displacement of iron by fibrotic septa. The cirrhotic tissue was clearly identified as a separate peak in the R 2 distribution of the tissue. The relaxivity of the iron did not appear to depend on the microarchitecture of the tissue. Magn Reson Med 49:572–575, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.