T2* Heterogeneity detected by CMR could be Related to Myocardial Iron Distribution in Thalassemia Patients

A large percentage of thalassemia major (TM) patients shows a significant heterogeneity of segmental distribution of T2* values in myocardium, measured by multislice multiecho T2* cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This finding is in agreement with previous histological studies that have detected heterogeneous iron deposition in hemochromatotic hearts. However, it is not yet clear if that represented true heterogeneous iron density or if it could have been generated by geometric and susceptibility artefacts.