Patient guide · Iron overload imaging
FerriScan, MRI-based measurement of liver iron concentration for haemochromatosis and transfusion monitoring.
FerriScan is a non-invasive MRI-based test that quantifies liver iron concentration (LIC). Modern gold-standard for monitoring iron overload — hereditary haemochromatosis, transfusion-dependent thalassaemia and other conditions.
Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, · 5-minute read · Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · Next review 2027-07-30
Key facts
What FerriScan is, in six lines.
The essentials of the test — enough to have an informed conversation with your haematology or hepatology team.
- 01
Definition
MRI-based measurement of liver iron concentration (LIC).
- 02
Non-invasive
A non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy for iron quantification.
- 03
Standardised units
Reports LIC in mg Fe/g dry weight — comparable across scanners and centres.
- 04
Responsive to treatment
Sensitive to changes with venesection and iron chelation over time.
- 05
Cardiac iron by T2*
Complementary MRI T2* techniques quantify cardiac iron overload.
- 06
Regulator-approved
Approved by the MHRA and FDA and validated against biopsy.
Preparation and pathway
From referral to report — what happens, in order.
A short, non-invasive MRI, centrally analysed by Resonance Health, and returned to your specialist team with a structured plan.
- 01
Before
Haematology or hepatology consultation
Referral from your haematologist, hepatologist or specialist team, with recent ferritin and transferrin saturation.
- 02
Before
No preparation required
No fasting, no contrast, no cannula. Wear metal-free clothing for the MRI.
- 03
On the day
Standard MRI liver acquisition
A short liver MRI sequence on a 1.5T scanner — typically 30 minutes on the couch.
- 04
On the day
FerriScan software analysis
Anonymised images are sent to Resonance Health for validated central analysis.
- 05
After
LIC calculated in mg Fe/g dry weight
A quantitative value with normal, mild, moderate and severe overload thresholds.
- 06
After
Radiologist report to your team
The report is returned to your referring haematologist or hepatologist within days.
- 07
After
Structured management plan
Venesection, chelation or transfusion optimisation, with an interval for repeat imaging.
What it shows
What a FerriScan actually measures.
FerriScan answers a specific question — how much iron is in the liver, and how that is changing over time — with adjacent findings on cardiac, pancreatic and splenic iron.
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Liver iron concentration
Quantifies LIC as normal, mild, moderate or severe overload.
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Response to venesection or chelation
Tracks how LIC changes with treatment over months and years.
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Cardiac iron (via T2*)
Complementary T2* sequences quantify iron loading in the heart.
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Pancreatic iron in thalassaemia
Detects pancreatic iron deposition linked to endocrine complications.
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Splenic iron
Characterises splenic iron loading in transfusion-dependent patients.
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Fatty liver overlap
Standard sequences identify concurrent hepatic steatosis.
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Cirrhosis or fibrosis
Morphological changes of cirrhosis or fibrosis on the anatomical images.
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Red flag: cardiac iron with cardiomyopathy — urgent cardiology and chelation review
Do not wait. Contact your haematology or cardiology team the same day.
Next steps
What comes after the FerriScan.
The scan is a decision-support tool for your team — venesection, chelation, surveillance and family screening all sit on the same MDT pathway.
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Venesection for hereditary haemochromatosis
First-line for HFE-related iron overload — weekly, then maintenance.
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Iron chelation (deferasirox, deferiprone)
For transfusion-dependent patients or when venesection is not tolerated.
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Transfusion optimisation
Balancing transfusion need against iron loading in thalassaemia and MDS.
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HCC surveillance for cirrhosis
Six-monthly ultrasound and AFP where cirrhosis is established.
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Cascade family screening (HFE gene)
First-degree relatives offered HFE genotyping and ferritin screening.
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Cardiac monitoring in high-load patients
MRI T2*, echocardiography and specialist cardiology review.
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Repeat FerriScan monitoring
Interval imaging to demonstrate response and guide dose adjustment.
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Multi-disciplinary team review
Haematology, hepatology, cardiology and genetics working together.
Red flags
When findings need urgent action.
Any of the below should prompt an early conversation with your haematology, hepatology or cardiology team.
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Cardiac iron overload on T2*
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Severe LIC (> 15 mg Fe/g dry weight)
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New cirrhosis on imaging
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk
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Failed chelation adherence
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Endocrine dysfunction (diabetes, hypogonadism)
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Post-transplant iron re-accumulation
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Familial HFE risk in first-degree relatives
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Sickle cell disease with over-transfusion
Sources
What we relied on.
Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about FerriScan.
Quick answers on what the test measures, whether it replaces biopsy, and how often it is repeated.
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What is a FerriScan?
FerriScan is a validated MRI-based test that measures liver iron concentration (LIC) in mg of iron per gram of dry liver weight. It is the modern, non-invasive gold standard for quantifying iron overload.
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Is FerriScan a replacement for liver biopsy?
For the specific question of how much iron is in the liver, FerriScan has replaced biopsy in most centres. Biopsy is still used when fibrosis staging or other histology is needed.
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Who should have a FerriScan?
Patients with hereditary haemochromatosis, transfusion-dependent thalassaemia or sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndrome on regular transfusion, and anyone with persistently raised ferritin where iron overload is suspected.
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Do I need contrast for a FerriScan?
No. FerriScan uses standard non-contrast MRI sequences — no cannula, no gadolinium and no fasting.
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How often is FerriScan repeated?
Typically every 12 months while on active treatment, or every 1–2 years for stable patients. Your haematology or hepatology team will set the interval.
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Does FerriScan measure cardiac iron?
FerriScan itself measures liver iron. Cardiac iron is quantified with a complementary MRI T2* sequence, often performed at the same visit.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
-
FibroScan
Non-invasive liver stiffness and steatosis assessment.
Learn more -
MRI abdomen
Cross-sectional imaging of the liver and abdominal organs.
Learn more -
Blood tests
Ferritin, transferrin saturation and full liver panel.
Learn more -
All tests
Browse every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more
In practice, in London
Booking ferriscan privately in London — what actually happens
With ferriscan, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. Public provision for ferriscan is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics — Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf — means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For ferriscan specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
We’re careful about what a private pathway for ferriscan can and can’t promise. It can compress a wait, put you in front of a subspecialist quickly, and get a proper report in your hands within a week. It can’t rewrite what the imaging or the bloods say. Setting that expectation up front tends to make the whole experience less stressful.
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