MRI OF THE OPTIC-NERVE IN BENIGN INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION

We investigated the MRI appearance of the optic nerve and its cerebros pinal-fluid-containing sheath in 17 patients with benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) and 15 normal controls. Using phased-array local co ils, 3-mm coronal T2-weighted fat-suppressed fast spin-echo images wer e obtained with an in-plane resolution of < 0.39 mm. The optic nerve a nd its sheath were clearly differentiated. An enlarged, elongated suba rachnoid space around the optic nerve was demonstrated in patients wit h BIH. High-resolution MRI of the optic nerve offers additional inform ation which may be of value for diagnosis and in planning and monitori ng treatment.