Validation of T2* as a measure of tissue iron.

The upper graph shows the relation between liver iron from liver biopsy, and liver T2* measured by MR. The curvilinear relation becomes linear on the lower graph by using a log-log plot (non-fibrotic samples). This confirms that tissue iron affects tissue T2* and provides a calibration curve for liver T2*. Calibration of myocardial T2* is not yet available, but there is no doubt that myocardial T2* can be used to quantify relative myocardial iron levels.

Reproduced with permission from Anderson LJ, Holden S, Davies B, et al. Cardiovascular T2* (T2 star) magnetic resonance for the early diagnosis of myocardial iron overload. Eur Heart J. 2001;22:2171–2179.