FerriScan : Non-invasive measurement of liver iron concentration

Hi Sahil ,

Edited :

Does FerriScan measure iron in the liver or in the heart?
FerriScan measures iron concentration in the liver only.

How is FerriScan different from T2*?
Both methods use an MRI machine to gain images of the organ but the technique then applied to those images differ between
FerriScan’s R2 method and the T2* method.
How is FerriScan different from SQUID?
SQUID is a small device which is capable of measuring very small changes in magnetic flux. SQUID machines are extremely expensive
and the equipment is very limited (only 4 exist in the entire world). SQUID machines also require a dedicated technician to operate
them. FerriScan on the other hand is a regulated technique to measure iron concentration non-invasively. FerriScan can be used on
any validated MRI machine in the world and by any radiographer.

Note : i have edited  complete post ...

Best Regards
Take Care
Umair

Hi Sahil,

Good to hear from you, it has been a while. 

Please see the following site for FAQs on Ferriscan

http://www.resonancehealth.com/resonance/FAQ

My understanding is that Ferriscan is used to measure LIC (liver iron concentration using MRI technology). 
The T2* uses MRI technology to measure iron levels in the heart, (myocardial iron deposition) while also measuring heart function in terms of ejection fraction and other measurements. 

I think that the Ferriscan and the SQUID test can replace on another (I am not sure!), but the T2* in its focus on the heart cannot be substituted by the SQUID or Ferriscan. 

I hope this answers your question. 

Sharmin

The test for LIC ( live iron concentration ) is Called  R2* and the test measure's the Heart iron is called T2* .. if i m not wrong ...

With T2*, a bigger score means there is LESS iron in your
heart. With R2, a bigger score means there is MORE iron in
your liver.

Edited : And Ferriscan is to perform R2* test  ( LIC ) ... And SQUID is to perform T2* test ( test for Heart Iron  )....

Take care
Umair

I find this website to be quite informative:

http://content.resonancehealth.com/000384.pdf

Hi Sahil ,
in India there is only one Hospital have the facility of Ferriscan ... Sharmin  is right Ferriscan is only for LIC ( Liver Iron Concentration ) Test .... its not for T2* ..  here is the adress oof the center where there is this facility available ...

1 centre(s) found in Asia, India.

Dr Jankharia's Imaging Centre
Bhaveshwar Vihar 383, S.V.P. Road
Mumbai
Maharashtra 400 004 Asia
Phone: +91 22 66173333 Fax: +91 22 23829595

 

Umair

Thank you very much Sharmin and Umair for the quick replies.

I got my T2* of heart and liver done this August or September (don't remember), so should Ferriscan also be on the cards for me?

Umair, I got my T2* from Jhankharia's Imaging only. But did't know that they do FerriScan as well.


\peace/

Sahil,

Yes, you should probably do the ferriscan as well because iron is always stored in the liver before it reaches the heart.  You should have your LIC levels measured with the ferriscan. 

It is great to know that this technology is available to you in India. 

Sharmin

Hi Sahil,

Nice to see you again. T2* is a scan that measures iron in the heart. Ferriscan uses MRI imaging in a software program that created a 3-D image of the liver and shows exactly where and how big iron deposits are in the liver. Since in most majors, iron will accumulate in the liver before the heart, Ferriscan is a very useful tool for identifying trouble even before the heart is affected. It is also harmless to the patient, whereas liver biopsy does have a small risk of complications (small is a word that has no meaning to me here, because a friend of mine died after a liver biopsy released an embolism into his bloodstream and it killed him the next day). Ferriscan is available in Mumbai and we have been trying to get it into Delhi but the process has stalled and doctors haven't returned emails. I believe Vikas Kapoor was involved in this, so if you are in contact with him (I saw him only briefly in Singapore)please ask him if any progress has been made.

Both Ferriscan and T2* are valuable diagnostic tools and if possible, both should be utilized. Because of the strange chelation patterns that patients sometimes have, iron can build in the heart and not the liver (I'll talk more about this later), so you can't be certain about the other unless both are tested.

Ferriscan, Mumbai
India    Dr Jankharia's Imaging Centre    Bhaveshwar Vihar 383, S.V.P. Road    Mumbai         +91 22 66173333   

Sharmin,

One quick note. I had mentioned that ejection fraction is not a very accurate test and this was also verified at Singapore.

Sahil,

If you already had a liver scan, I don't think you would need to do Ferriscan so soon. It may be something to check out in the future. By the way, how were your scan results?


I also had the pleasure of meeting Sylvia Goh at the conference and also was able to talk to Tim St. Pierre, the founder of Ferriscan, for over an hour.

The problem with the Squid test is that there are only a few of these machines in the world, so T2* and Ferriscan are much more available to patients.

Andy,

My T2*reports were as follows:

Heart 31.38

Liver 9.55

Conclusion:

1- Absence of liver and myocardial iron loading.

2- Normal biventricular function. The ejection fraction is 63.2%

My latest Serum Ferritin is 317 ng/ml. I'm not on any chelation at the moment. Waiting for the S.Ferritin to reach 1000 ng/ml. Then I'll start with Asunra (Exjade) again.

I'm not in touch with Vikas. But will surely mail him or leave a message for him regarding the FerriScan.


\peace/

Whoa Sahil,

My latest Serum Ferritin is 317 ng/ml. I'm not on any chelation at the moment. Waiting for the S.Ferritin to reach 1000 ng/ml. Then I'll start with Asunra (Exjade) again.

You deserve a big hand 

Congrats,

Zaini.

Thank You Zaini!! 

All the credit goes to my parents for arranging everything for me. And my lovely doc, who's a gem of a person. He would always say to get my S.Ferritin below 500 ng/ml.


\peace/

One quick note. I had mentioned that ejection fraction is not a very accurate test and this was also verified at Singapore.

My T2* report had the ejection fraction thing, so is it inaccurate?


\peace/

Andy,
Thank you for that information. 

Sahil,
The ejection fraction is one measurement they take during an echo cardiogram or during the T2* - the results of ejection fraction measurement are 'interpreted' by the radiologist.  It seems that there is a little discrepancy in the interpretation depending on who is measuring it.   Your T2* test should be accurate regardless of the accuracy of the ejection fraction value (which is probably in the ball park of 63.2%). 

Your test results look great!  Doctors here have mentioned that 500 - 600 is the level of ferritin, at which Exjade should be re-introduced/started rather than waiting for your iron levels to go to 1000.  At that point maybe you can start on a very low dose of Exjade.  You can check with your doctor. 

Congratulations on your values!  They look great!

Sharmin