MRI artifact masquerading as orbital disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the diagnostic challenge associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) artifact and to describe methods of minimizing this artifact.


METHODS
Gadolinium enhancement was demonstrated to be artifact by using an inversion recovery pulse sequence technique.


RESULTS
A patient with complaints of painless loss of vision also had radiologic abnormalities that led to subsequent referral to a tertiary care facility. Increased signals on the fat-suppressed contrast enhanced MRI was demonstrated to be artifact by using an inversion recovery technique which produced a normal MRI of the orbit.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical confusion leading to unnecessary and costly evaluation may be avoided if one considers the possibility of artifact when reviewing magnetic resonance studies. When magnetic susceptibility is suspected, the use of an inversion recovery sequence can better delineate the true nature of the abnormality.
Brown
B A
BA
Ophthalmology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC, USA.
Swallow
C E
CE
Eiseman
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
D005682:Gadolinium