title: MRI demonstration of orbital lipolysis in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe the orbital changes due to lipolysis in anorexia nervosa. We examined a cachectic patient with MR imaging using T1-weighted images before and after contrast enhancement. Orbital fat edema has been observed in extreme forms of cachexia and the CT and MR findings have recently been reported. The imaging appearances have been explained by the disappearance of the fat tissue and the appearance of edema due to a disturbance in the electrolyte fluid balance. In the recent literature particular attention has been paid to the increased lipid peroxidation and lipolysis in anorexia nervosa. These metabolic processes result in an increased permeability of the vessel wall endothelium, which can explain the extravasation of the contrast agent in the orbital fat on MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Philippe.Demaerel@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demaerel
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dekimpe
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muls
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilms
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium