Acute retinal necrosis MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Overview

MRI imaging may reveal lesions indicative of infection from acute retinal necrosis pathogens.

Key MRI Findings for Acute retinal necrosis

MRI imaging may reveal the following indicators of acute retinal necrosis:^[1]

Increased T2 signal intensity in the optic pathway: optic nerves, optic chiasm, lateral geniculate bodies, optic radiations, visual cortex, midbrain structures, trigeminal nerves, and meninges
- Increased intensity may reveal lesions indicative of Herpes simplex virus or Cytomegalovirus infection
Contrast enhanced CT T1-weighted images may reveal enhancement of optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tracts, optic radiation, semilunar ganglion–Meckel cave, meninges, and midbrain

References

↑ Bert RJ, Samawareerwa R, Melhem ER (2004). “CNS MR and CT findings associated with a clinical presentation of herpetic acute retinal necrosis and herpetic retrobulbar optic neuritis: five HIV-infected and one non-infected patients”. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 25 (10): 1722–9. PMID 15569737.

Overview