Mastoiditis MRI

Mastoiditis Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

MRI

On MRI scan of the head, orbital cellulitis is characterized by hypointense signal on T1-weighted images, and hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images.^[1] MRI has demonstrated equivilance to CT in diagnosing orbital disease and is equally accepted as a gold standard diagnostic imaging modality.^[2][3] Although an MRI scan is safer in children since there is no radiation exposure, the long acquisition time and the need for prolonged sedation make CT scan the imaging modality of choice.^[4] After a diagnosis is made, MRI has shown superiority in assessing the severity of intracranial involvement and abscess border visualization

• partial-to-complete opacification of the mastoid air cells +/- middle ear cleft
• fluid signal intensity in the mastoid should not be interpreted as mastoiditis without other evidence, such as mucosal contrast enhancement and/or diffusion restriction