Hemochromatosis

Primary or hereditary hemochromatosis, also called hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States. Caused by a defect in HFE gene which helps regulate the amount of iron absorbed from food.

Secondary hemochromatosis is caused by repeated transfusions.

Clinical Symptoms

Arthritis, liver disease, including an enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure damage to the pancreas, possibly causing diabetes, heart abnormalities, such as irregular heart rhythms or congestive heart failure, impotence, early menopause, abnormal pigmentation of the skin, making it look gray or bronze, thyroid deficiency, damage to the adrenal glands

Differential Diagnosis

Hyperdense liver on CT (>75HU) includes iron overload, treatment with iodine-containing compounds (eg, amiodarone), hemochromatosis, and glycogen storage disease. However, the additional findings of a shrunken, high-density spleen and high-density lymph nodes are highly characteristic of prior administration of thorium dioxide.

Loss of signal on MRI in phase imaging