• Steren Chabert, Nicolas Molko, Yann Cointepas, Patrick Le Roux, and Denis Le Bihan.
• SHFJ/CEA, #4 Place du Général Leclerc, 91401 Orsay, France.
• J Magn Reson Imaging. 2005 Aug 1; 22 (2): 307-10.

PurposeTo investigate the diffusion tensor properties of the human optic nerve in vivo using a non-Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) fast spin echo (FSE) sequence.Materials And MethodsThis non-CPMG FSE sequence, which is based on a quadratic phase modulation of the refocusing pulses, allows diffusion measures to be acquired with full signal and without artifacts from geometric distortions due to magnetic field inhomogeneities, which are among the main problems encountered in the orbital area.ResultsGood-quality images were obtained at a resolution of 0.94 x 0.94 x 3 mm. The mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were respectively 1.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second and 0.49 +/- 0.06, reflecting the optic nerve anisotropy.ConclusionThis non-CPMG-FSE sequence provides reliable diffusion-weighted images of the human optic nerve. This approach could potentially improve the diagnosis and management of optic nerve diseases or compression, such as optic neuritis, orbit tumors, and muscle hypertrophy.(c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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