Diffusion-weighted imaging in the assessment of brain abscesses therapy.

Background And Purpose: Surgically or conservatively treated brain abscesses may resolve, or pus may re-accumulate, requiring further intervention or treatment change. We hypothesized that diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging is useful in depicting features of abscesses related to therapeutic success or failure.

Methods: Conventional contrast-enhanced T1- and T2-weighted imaging and DW imaging were performed in seven patients (aged 30-69 years) with proved pyogenic brain abscesses.