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The signal intensity ratio of the optic nerve to ipsilateral frontal white matter is of value in the diagnosis of acute optic neuritis

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the usefulness of the signal intensity ratio (SIR) of the optic nerve to the white matter (WM) on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images to diagnose acute optic neuritis (AON).

Methods

The 405 consecutive patients with suspected orbital diseases underwent orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 3-T scanner between June 2008 and August 2011. Among them, 108 optic nerves (33 AON and 75 control) were retrospectively analysed. The averaged SIR (SIRave) and maximum SIR (SIRmax) were defined as the averaged signal intensity (SI) of the optic nerve divided by that of WM, and the maximum SI of the optic nerve divided by averaged SI of WM, respectively. These values were compared between AON and control using the Mann–Whitney U test. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

SIRave and SIRmax were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the AON compared to the control. At a cut-off SIRave value of 1.119, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 0.939, 0.840, and 0.870; and at a cut-off SIRmax value of 1.281, these were 1.000, 0.720 and 0.806, respectively.

Conclusion

The SIR of the optic nerve to WM on STIR images is of value in diagnosing AON.

Key Points

• We propose a method of diagnosing acute optic neuritis using 3-T MRI.

• Our method is simple and objective and requires no novel imaging techniques.

• Our method shows high diagnostic accuracy.

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Abbreviations

AON:

acute optic neuritis

IFWM:

ipsilateral frontal white matter

ON:

optic neuritis

SI:

signal intensity

SIR:

signal intensity ratio

SIRave:

averaged signal intensity ratio

SIRmax:

maximum signal intensity ratio

STIR:

short tau inversion recovery

VEP:

visual evoked potential

WM:

white matter

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Acknowledgements

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Masamitsu Hatakenaka MD, PhD. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the institutional review board.

No study subjects or cohorts have been previously reported. Methodology: retrospective, diagnostic or prognostic study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, South 1 West 17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo City, 060-8556, Japan

    Maki Onodera, Naoya Yama, Takaharu Shonai, Kazunori Aratani & Masamitsu Hatakenaka

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan

    Masato Hashimoto & Hiroshi Ohguro

  3. Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan

    Hiroyuki Takashima & Hiroshi Nagahama

  4. Liberal Arts and Sciences, Center for Medical Education, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan

    Ken-ichi Kamo

Authors
  1. Maki Onodera
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  2. Naoya Yama
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  3. Masato Hashimoto
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  4. Takaharu Shonai
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  5. Kazunori Aratani
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  6. Hiroyuki Takashima
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  7. Ken-ichi Kamo
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  8. Hiroshi Nagahama
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  9. Hiroshi Ohguro
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  10. Masamitsu Hatakenaka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naoya Yama.

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Onodera, M., Yama, N., Hashimoto, M. et al. The signal intensity ratio of the optic nerve to ipsilateral frontal white matter is of value in the diagnosis of acute optic neuritis. Eur Radiol 26, 2640–2645 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4114-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4114-4

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