New FerriScan Rapide – 10 minute Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner
Friday 25 September 2009 saw the Whittington Hospital become the first medical site in the world to provide the new FerriScan Rapide – a 10 minute Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan which accurately measures liver iron concentration.Measuring liver iron concentration is vital to detect patients who are at risk from ‘iron overload’, a disease that can be fatal if not treated. Iron overload is common in patients who have multiple blood transfusions, as each blood transfusion has a high iron content. Patients with conditions such as thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome are often at risk.
In addition, iron overload can be caused by a common genetic condition called Hereditary Haemochromatosis, which affects around 1 in 220 people in the UK. This condition can cause abnormally high iron absorption from a person’s diet.
Iron overload has previously been difficult to detect and liver iron concentration had to be measured by liver biopsy, an invasive and expensive procedure. Now the FerriScan Rapide enables patients to undergo a quick, painless 10 minute scan which provides a colour coded map of their liver to give an accurate and specific reading of iron concentration.
At the launch Dr Caroline Allum, consultant radiologist and clinical lead for the imaging department, gave a speech to explain the significance of this equipment to patients and the hospital itself:
“I would like to say that this exciting new development has been part of a concerted team effort and I extend thanks to Melanie Baxter and Resonance Health, to our MRI team, and to the haematology and radiology consultants who have made this happen.
“The Whittington prides itself on being the hospital of choice for local people and this is a prime example of the Trust focusing on the needs of our local population. In this instance, however, this technological first will not only benefit those who live locally but those who live nationally.
We are proud that we are first in the world to deliver this service - and in this instance we are the hospital of choice, or the service of choice, for global people” she said.
The FerriScan Rapide launch was attended by representatives from The Sickle Cell Society, Thalassaemia Society, Haemochromatosis Society and consultants at the hospital. Patient representatives who will benefit from the new FerriScan also attended the event with the first UK Thalassaemia patient having her FerriScan Rapide scan results delivered on the same morning.
Last updated06 Oct 2009