Liver MRI is more precise than liver biopsy for assessing total body iron balance: a comparison of MRI relaxometry with simulated liver biopsy results

MRI relaxometry is superior to liver biopsy for serial LIC observations, such as used in the care of tranfusional siderosis patients, and should also be considered the new standard of LIC determination for regulatory purposes. Among relaxometry techniques, LIC estimates by R2* are more robust for tracking changes in iron balance over intermediate time scales (<=24 weeks).