SMRT Signals • July 2016 • Vol.5 Issue 2

Quantification of Liver Iron With MRI: State of the Art and Remaining Challenges

We are pleased to present the SMRT Educational Seminars, Volume 19, Number 4: Quantification of Liver Iron with MRI: State of the Art and Remaining Challenges. This is the 74th accredited home study developed by the SMRT, exclusively for SMRT members. The accreditation is conducted by the SMRT acting as a RCEEM (Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism) for the ARRT. Category A credits are assigned to each home study, which can be used to maintain one’s ARRT advanced registry. SMRT Home Studies are also approved for AIR (Australian Institute of Radiography), NZIMRT (New Zealand Institute of Radiation Technology) and CPD Now (The College of Radiographers, United Kingdom) continuing professional development (CPD) activities.

One peer-reviewed published article appears in this home study issue. The authors offer an in-depth discussion of iron deposition in the liver and the options to image and quantify using MRI. “The presence of iron in tissue affects the MRI signal in multiple ways: iron, typically in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin, shortens the relaxation times T2*, T2 and T1 (ie, increases the relaxation times R2*, R2 and R1). Additionally, because iron in the body is paramagnetic, it affects the susceptibility of tissue, resulting in macroscopic changes in the B0 field.” This most thorough review includes pathophysiology and mechanisms of iron overload in addition to MRI-based and non-MRI-based methods for quantification of liver iron.

A special thank you to Chesanie Beam, B.S., R.T.(R)(M)(MR) from Gastonia, NC, USA for acting as the Expert Reviewer.

Thanks also to Heidi Berns, M.S., R.T.(R)(MR), FSMRT, Chair of the SMRT RCEEM Ad-hoc committee from Coralville, Iowa, USA and all those who participate on this committee by reviewing the home studies for accreditation. Finally, many thanks to Kerry Crockett, Associate Executive Director, Mary Keydash, Director of Marketing, Sally Moran, Director of IT and Web, Barbara Elliott, SMRT Coordinator, and the entire staff in the Concord, California, USA office of the ISMRM and SMRT for their insight and long hours spent supporting these educational symposia.

To access the new Educational Seminar,
log in to our new member services website
and click the "SMRT E-Learning" Button.

Signals is a publication produced four times per calendar year by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine for the benefit of the SMRT membership and those individuals and organizations that support the educational programs and professional advancement of the SMRT and its members. The newsletter is the compilation of editor, Julie Strandt-Peay, BSM, RT (R)(MR) FSMRT, the leadership of the SMRT and the staff in the ISMRM Central Office with contributions from members and invited participants.

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Tel: +1 925-825-SMRT (7678) Fax: +1 510-841-2340 smrt@ismrm.org