Magnetic Field Correlation as a Measure of Iron-Generated Magnetic Field Inhomogeneities in the Brain

The magnetic field correlation (MFC) at an applied field level of 3 Tesla was estimated by means of MRI in several brain regions for 21 healthy human adults and 1 subject with aceruloplasminemia. For healthy subjects, highly elevated MFC values compared with surrounding tissues were found within the basal ganglia. These are argued as being primarily the result of microscopic magnetic field Inhomogeneities generated by non-heme brain iron. The MFC in the aceruloplasminemia subject was significantly higher than for healthy adults In the globus pallidus, thalamus and frontal white matter, consistent with the known increased brain Iron concentration associated with this disease. Magn Reson Med 61:481-485, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.