title: Using Nonechoplanar Diffusion-weighted MRI to Assess Treatment Response in Active Graves Orbitopathy: A Novel Approach with 2 Case Reports.
abstract: Two patients (68 and 71 years, both female) with sight threatening, active Graves orbitopathy but low clinical activity score underwent MRI scans before and after intravenous corticosteroid treatment. Two MRI techniques, short-term inversion recovery and nonechoplanar diffusion-weighted imaging, were used. Apparent diffusion coefficient values reduced in patient 1 who had successful medical treatment and remained elevated in patient 2 who had an inadequate treatment response. Nonechoplanar diffusion-weighted imaging provided a quantitative measure of treatment response by calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient. The novel use of nonechoplanar diffusion-weighted imaging for monitoring treatment response in Graves orbitopathy is illustrated but requires further validation.
authors.affiliation: *Central Eye Service, Central Middlesex Hospital; and †Department of Radiology, Northwick Park & Central Middlesex Hospitals, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ailsa E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Vickie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Ravi Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lingam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids