MRI of orbital cellulitis and orbital abscess: the role of diffusion-weighted imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Our aims were to describe the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in detecting abscess as a complication of orbital cellulitis and to assess whether abscess can be diagnosed with a combination of conventional unenhanced sequences and whole-brain DWI with parallel acquisition. Nine cases of orbital cellulitis imaged with MRI were retrospectively reviewed, including six cases with pyogenic abscess.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary study, DWI improved diagnostic confidence in nearly all cases of orbital abscess when used in conjunction with contrast-enhanced imaging. DWI also confirmed abscess in a majority of cases without contrast-enhanced imaging, which may be of particular use when contrast material is contraindicated.
Sepahdari
Ali R
AR
Department of Radiology, University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Aakalu
Vinay K
VK
Kapur
Rashmi
R
Michals
Edward A
EA
Saran
Nitu
N
French
Adam
A
Mafee
Mahmood F
MF
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054517:Orbital Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA