Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of encephalitis

OBJECTIVE. Our purpose was to evaluate how well diffusion-weighted MR imagi ng shows viral or bacterial encephalitis in comparison with conventional MR imaging that includes T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo and fluid-attenuated i nversion-recovery sequences. CONCLUSION. In nine of the 13 patients examined, diffusion-weighted imaging was superior to other diagnostic imaging sequences (fluid-attenuated inver sion-recovery sequences in eight patients and a T2-weighted spin-echo seque nce in one patient). Diffusion-weighted imaging can serve as a method of de tecting early encephalitic changes.