RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Patients with Pyogenic Brain Abscesses at 1.5T: Characteristics of the Abscess Capsule
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A2866
A1 P.H. Lai
A1 H.C. Chang
A1 T.C. Chuang
A1 H.W. Chung
A1 J.Y. Li
A1 M.J. Weng
A1 J.H. Fu
A1 P.C. Wang
A1 S.C. Li
A1 H.B. Pan
YR 2012
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2012/01/26/ajnr.A2866.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: SWI is a high-resolution 3D, fully velocity-compensated gradient-echo sequence that uses both magnitude and phase data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phase behavior of the capsule of pyogenic brain abscesses with noncontrast SWI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with pyogenic brain abscesses were studied at 1.5T. In all of the patients, SWI images were obtained and reviewed in addition to conventional MR images. Phase values within the abscess capsule were measured and compared with those from the abscess cavities and contralateral normal white matter using 1-way repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni analysis. RESULTS: SWI phase images showed mild hypointesity in 6 patients, isointensity in 3 patients, and mixed iso- to mild hypointensity in 5 patients. The means of phase in the cavity, rim of abscesses, and contralateral normal white matter were −7.552 × 10−3 ± 0.024, −0.105 ± 0.080, and +0.029 ± 0.011 radians, respectively. Post hoc comparisons showed significant differences between any pair of the 3 regions (abscess cavity, rim capsule, and normal white matter) in SWI (all Ps < .005). CONCLUSIONS: SWI phase imaging shows evidence of paramagnetic substances in agreement with the presence of free radicals from phagocytosis. SWI may provide additional information valuable in the characterization of pyogenic brain abscesses. Abbreviations GdgadoliniummIPminimal intensity projectionrCBVrelative cerebral blood volumeSPGRspoiled gradient-recalled echo