PURPOSE: The clinical usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was evaluated in patients with brain abscesses in comparison to patients with cystic brain tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five patients with surgically confirmed brain abscesses underwent beside a brain MRI examination with contrast media application diffusion weighted imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficients (rADC) in three orthogonal diffusion gradient were calculated. The same protocol was used to examine 5 patients with cystic brain tumors. RESULTS: Showing an rADC of 0.33 x 10(-3)/mm(2)/s abscesses have a highly restricted diffusion in comparison to cystic brain tumors with an rADC of 1,67 x 10(-3)/mm(2)/s. CONCLUSION: Diffusion weighted imaging is a usefull diagnostic tool in the work up of brain abscesses.
PURPOSE: The clinical usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was evaluated in patients with brain abscesses in comparison to patients with cystic brain tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five patients with surgically confirmed brain abscesses underwent beside a brain MRI examination with contrast media application diffusion weighted imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficients (rADC) in three orthogonal diffusion gradient were calculated. The same protocol was used to examine 5 patients with cystic brain tumors. RESULTS: Showing an rADC of 0.33 x 10(-3)/mm(2)/s abscesses have a highly restricted diffusion in comparison to cystic brain tumors with an rADC of 1,67 x 10(-3)/mm(2)/s. CONCLUSION: Diffusion weighted imaging is a usefull diagnostic tool in the work up of brain abscesses.
Authors: A B Haimes; R D Zimmerman; S Morgello; K Weingarten; R D Becker; R Jennis; M D Deck Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 1989-05 Impact factor: 3.959