Optic neuritis: imaging with magnetization transfer.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to prospectively examine the optic nerves in patients with clinically severe unilateral optic neuritis, using routine spin-echo and magnetization transfer MR imaging.


METHODS
For 39 patients with such lesions, we calculated the magnetization transfer ratio along the involved intraorbital optic nerve and along the asymptomatic contralateral optic nerve in a mirror-image location. Magnetization transfer ratios were correlated with the imaging findings on routine spin-echo MR imaging.


RESULTS
Magnetization transfer ratios were decreased in 33 of the 39 clinically symptomatic optic nerves, including 12 of the 18 clinically symptomatic optic nerves in which no abnormality was seen on routine spin-echo MR images obtained before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetization transfer imaging reveals intraorbital optic nerve abnormalities in patients with optic neuritis even when such lesions are otherwise occult on routine magnetization transfer imaging.
Boorstein
J M
JM
Department of Radiology, St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, OH 43608, USA.
Moonis
G
G
Boorstein
S M
SM
Patel
Y P
YP
Culler
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA