Authors:
O. Papakonstantinou1, Z. Spyridaki2, T. Maris2, V. Ladis1, S. Kostaridou1, S. Karampekios2, N. Gourtsoyiannis3; 1Athens/GR, 2Iraklion/GR, 3Heraklion/GR
DOI:
10.1594/ECR03/C-0525
Purpose
The capability of MR imaging to document and quantify liver iron in number of pathologic conditions associated with liver iron overload, has been well documented. In our country, the major cause of iron overload is beta-thalassemia major. At our institution, MR imaging of the upper abdomen and myocardium has been added in the diagnostic follow up of the patients with beta-thalassemia for the estimation of iron status, and has eliminated the need for liver biopsies. There are scattered descriptions of abdominal lymphadenopathy in patients with b-thalassemia, explored by means of ultrasonography or CT. The goals of our study are to identify the frequency, describe the MR imaging findings and investigate the relation between abdominal lymphadenopathy and post-transfusion hepatitis, that has a high prevelance in patients with beta-thalassemia.