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Research article
First published online April 21, 2015

Novel finding of optic nerve central T2 hypointensity utilizing 3 Tesla MR imaging

Roy Riascos [email protected], John C Heymann, Reza Hakimelahi, Khader Hasan, Ashot Sargsyan, Yael R Barr, James Tom, Noam Alperin, and Larry A KramerView all authors and affiliations
Volume 28, Issue 2
https://doi.org/10.1177/1971400915576668

Abstract

We sought to report a central T2 hypointensity within the optic nerve on 3 T MRI studies obtained as part of the NASA Flight Medicine Visual Impairment Intracranial Pressure Protocol that had not been described previously. Twenty-one astronauts, who had undergone MRI of both orbits with direct coronal T2 sequences between 2010 and 2012, were retrospectively included. Two of the astronauts did not have previous exposure to microgravity at the time of their scans. A central T2 hypointensity was observed in 100% of both right and left eyes. It was completely visualized throughout the nerve course in 15 right eyes (71.4%) and in 19 left eyes (90.5%).We describe a new finding seen in all study participants: a central T2 hypointensity in the epicenter of the optic nerve. We speculate that this T2 hypointensity may represent flow voids caused by the central retinal vessels.

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Published In

Volume 28, Issue 2
Pages: 133 - 136
Article first published online: April 21, 2015
Issue published: April 2015

Keywords

  1. optic nerve
  2. T2 hypointensity
  3. 3 Tesla
  4. MR imaging

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© The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.
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PubMed: 25923682

Authors

Affiliations

Roy Riascos
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas in Houston
[email protected]
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John C Heymann
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston, TX, USA
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Reza Hakimelahi
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston, TX, USA
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Khader Hasan
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas in Houston
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Ashot Sargsyan
Wyle Science, Technology & Engineering Group; USA
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Yael R Barr
University of Texas Medical Branch / NASA Johnson Space Center Bioastronautics Contract, Houston, TX, USA
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James Tom
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston, TX, USA
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Noam Alperin
Department of Radiology, The University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Larry A Kramer
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas in Houston
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Notes

Roy Riascos, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 2.130B, Houston, TX 77030 United States. Email: [email protected]

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