Orbital cavernous hemangioma: findings on sequential Gd-enhanced MRI.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the contrast enhancement pattern of orbital cavernous hemangioma on sequential Gd-enhanced MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six patients with an orbital mass lesion were examined with T1- and T2-weighted spin echo MRI. After intravenous administration of Gd-chelate at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg, T1-weighted spin echo sequences were performed immediately after, after 15 to 30 min, and up to 1 h after the injection. In two patients a fat saturation prepulse was given before the Gd-enhanced study.

RESULTS

In all patients the lesions were isointense to muscle on the T1-weighted sequence and hyperintense to muscle on the T2-weighted sequences. After gadolinium, all lesions showed initial central patchy enhancement. Between 20 and 60 min after the injection the lesions showed total and homogeneous filling up.

CONCLUSIONS

Progressive and total homogeneous filling up of an orbital mass of Gd-enhanced MRI is a pathognomonic sign of cavernous hemangioma.