Anatomic features of the eye disclosed with nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
J. W. Sassani and M. D. Osbakken
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging of the eye and paraorbital areas
was performed in 35 volunteers and in four patients with ocular pathology.
Two- and three-dimensional images were performed with saturation recovery
(SR), inversion recovery (IR), and spin echo (SE) pulse sequences. Fat was
brighter than surrounding tissue on images obtained with all pulse
sequences, while muscle and optic nerve were of decreased intensity. The
optic chiasm and vitreous were of decreased intensity compared with orbital
fat on SR. The lens had even less signal intensity than the vitreous on SR
and IR images and blended into the surroundings on SE images. A melanoma of
the ciliary body and a lymphoma of the lacrimal gland were identified. In
conclusion, NMR images can be used to identify normal and pathologic
orbital and eyeball anatomy. Image contrast is provided by high intensity
fat, which is interspersed throughout other orbital structures.
