title: Initial Pattern of Optic Nerve Enhancement in Korean Patients with Unilateral Optic Neuritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether the pattern of optic nerve enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help to differentiate between idiopathic optic neuritis (ON), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and multiple sclerosis (MS) in unilateral ON.
  
  
  METHODS
  An MRI of the brain and orbits was obtained in patients with acute unilateral ON. Patients with ON were divided into three groups: NMO, MS, and idiopathic ON. The length and location of the abnormal optic nerve enhancement were compared for ON eyes with and without NMO or MS. The correlation between the pattern of optic nerve enhancement and the outcome of visual function was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 36 patients with ON who underwent an MRI within 2 weeks of the onset, 19 were diagnosed with idiopathic ON, 9 with NMO, and 8 with MS. Enhancement of the optic nerve occurred in 21 patients (58.3%) and was limited to the orbital segment in 12 patients. Neither the length nor the location of the optic nerve enhancement was significantly correlated with visual functions other than contrast sensitivity or the diagnosis of idiopathic ON, MS, or NMO. Patients with greater extent of optic nerve sheath enhancement and more posterior segment involvement showed higher contrast sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data revealed that the pattern of optic nerve enhancement was not associated with diagnosis of idiopathic ON, NMO, or MS in Korean patients with unilateral ON. We believe further studies that include different ethnic groups will lead to a more definitive answer on this subject.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Specialty, Department of Ophthalmology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Sie
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Yeun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sei Yeul
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D056910:Republic of Korea
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica; Optic nerve; Optic neuritis