Brain abscess and necrotic or cystic brain tumor: discrimination with signal intensity on diffusion-weighted MR imaging

• Published in: American journal of roentgenology (1976) Vol. 171; no. 6; pp. 1487 - 1490
• Main Authors: Kim, YJ, Chang, KH, Song, IC, Kim, HD, Seong, SO, Kim, YH, Han, MH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leesburg, VA Am Roentgen Ray Soc 01-12-1998; American Roentgen Ray Society
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Abscess - diagnosis; Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis; Cysts - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Nervous system; Neurology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Intensity; Abscess; Malignant tumor; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Differential diagnostic; Cerebral disorder; Necrosis; Sensitivity; Signal; Central nervous system disease; Cystic necrosis
• ISSN: 0361-803X; 1546-3141
• DOI: 10.2214/ajr.171.6.9843275

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in signal intensity between brain abscesses and necrotic or cystic tumors on diffusion-weighted MR imaging.
Five consecutive patients with proven brain abscesses and four patients with proven cystic or necrotic brain tumors were prospectively evaluated with diffusion-weighted imaging. On diffusion-weighted imaging, brain abscesses showed markedly hyperintense signal in all five patients, whereas necrotic or cystic brain tumors revealed hypointense signal in all four patients. Diffusion-weighted imaging may allow the differentiation of brain abscess from necrotic or cystic brain tumor.