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Case Reports
. 2010 Oct;31(9):1651-2.
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1912. Epub 2009 Dec 17.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of intramedullary spinal cord abscess

E Dörflinger-Hejlek  1 , E C Kirsch, H Reiter, M Opravil, A H Kaim
Affiliations
Case Reports

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of intramedullary spinal cord abscess

E Dörflinger-Hejlek et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of adequate treatment are essential for clinical outcome in ISCA. We report a case in which DWI provided a more specific diagnosis than conventional MR imaging and allowed differentiation of a ring-enhancing lesion from intramedullary tumor. Diagnosis was proved by PCR from CSF (Streptococcus intermedius). Adequate antibiotic treatment was immediately initiated, and the patient recovered completely.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
A, Sagittal fat-saturated T1-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence after intravenous Gd-chelates application shows an intramedullary ring-enhancing lesion at T8 (white arrow). B, Sagittal T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence demonstrates an extended thoracic spinal cord edema and a hypointense capsular rim of the lesion (white arrowhead). C, The lesion is hyperintense on sagittal DWI. D, Restricted diffusion is illustrated on ADC maps.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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