Restricted diffusion in the optic nerve and retina demonstrated by MRI in rhino-orbital mucormycosis

J Neuroophthalmol. 2009 Mar;29(1):13-5. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0b013e318183bde4.

Abstract

A 29-year-old man developed vision loss in the right eye due to ophthalmic artery, cavernous sinus, and superior ophthalmic vein occlusion in mucormycosis. Diffusion MRI obtained within 2 days of symptom onset showed that the apparent diffusion coefficient values of the optic nerve and retina were remarkably decreased on the affected compared with the unaffected side. A follow-up MRI study 21 days after symptom onset revealed the anticipated disappearance of these signal changes, confirming that they were a true reflection of ischemia in the optic nerve and retina. This report adds to an accumulating body of literature on restricted diffusion in these tissues in conditions producing severe ischemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis / microbiology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mucormycosis / diagnosis*
  • Mucormycosis / microbiology
  • Optic Nerve / pathology*
  • Orbital Cellulitis / diagnosis
  • Orbital Cellulitis / microbiology
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Paranasal Sinus Diseases / microbiology
  • Retina / pathology*