T2 heterogeneity of cortex in patients with beta-thalassemia major

Beta-thalassemia (β-TM) is an inherited blood disorder with severe anemia. In this study, we investigated alterations of T2 heterogeneity in cortical regions caused by β-TM using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared with healthy controls, β-TM patients showed increased T2 heterogeneities in bilateral inferior orbitofrontal, left calcarine, left cuneus and left superior occipital lobe, while no decreased T2 heterogeneity was observed. Thus, we concluded that T2 heterogeneities could reveal the β-TM-affecting T2 alterations in brain.