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OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study investigated the specificity of restricted water diffusion for the diagnosis of brain abscess. Two of five rim-enhancing brain masses with restricted water diffusion (apparent diffusion coefficient of 0.79 10(-3) mm(2)/sec or less) were brain abscesses, but diagnoses in the other cases were metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (two cases) and radiation necrosis. CONCLUSION: Although an important diagnostic sign, restricted water diffusion is not specific for brain abscess.
Tung et al. (Sat,) studied this question.