MRI Artifact Masquerading as Orbital Disease

OBJECTIVES: To describe the diagnostic challenge associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) artifact and to describe methods of minimizing this artifact. METHODS: Gadolinium enhancement was demonstrated to be artifact by using an inversion recovery pulse sequence technique. RESULTS: A patient with complaints of painless loss of vision also had radiologic abnormalities that led to subsequent referral to a tertiary care facility. Increased signals on the fat-suppressed contrast enhanced MRI was demonstrated to be artifact by using an inversion recovery technique which produced a normal MRI of the orbit. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical confusion leading to unnecessary and costly evaluation may be avoided if one considers the possibility of artifact when reviewing magnetic resonance studies. When magnetic susceptibility is suspected, the use of an inversion recovery sequence can better delineate the true nature of the abnormality.