Cerebral abscesses: investigation using apparent diffusion coefficient maps.
Published
Journal Article
The combination of high signal and reduced apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) within abscesses on diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) has been reported as characteristic of abscesses, and useful for distinguishing them from cystic or necrotic neoplasms. To assess whether these are consistent findings in abscesses, we used DWI-derived ADC to investigate changes in water diffusibility in cerebral abscesses. We reviewed the MRI studies and clinical records of five patients with brain abscesses, who underwent DWI. Regions of interest were drawn within the abscesses on ADC maps, to obtain the ADC. The center of all five abscesses gave signal higher than that of white matter on DWI. The three largest also appeared bright on ADC maps, i. e., showed ADC substantially lower than those of normal white matter, consistent with restricted diffusion. However, the two smaller abscesses were not visible on ADC maps because their ADC were essentially the same as that of white matter; they did not show restricted diffusion. The absence of restricted diffusion within small abscesses may be related to intrinsic differences in molecular microenvironment between small and large abscesses, or to greater influence of volume averaging with surrounding edema on the ADC in smaller abscesses.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Guo, AC; Provenzale, JM; Cruz, LC; Petrella, JR
Published Date
- May 2001
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 43 / 5
Start / End Page
- 370 - 374
PubMed ID
- 11396740
Pubmed Central ID
- 11396740
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0028-3940
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1007/s002340000519
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- Germany