Isointensity

The arachnoid cyst marked with the red arrow is isointense to the spinal fluid (white arrows). Sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the spine

Isointensity (from Greek ίσος = equal and Latin intensus = tense) means "equal signal strength ". Radiologists use the term when diagnosing magnetic resonance imaging when two structures in the image are equally bright. The colloquial words "light" or "dark" are avoided when assessing medical image material, because these qualities are varied during the monitor diagnosis.

Statements about the tissue in question can be derived from the isointensity to known anatomical structures. For example, most of the cysts in routine MRI sequences are isointense to the contents of the urinary bladder .

The corresponding adjectives for relatively lighter and darker structures are called hyperintense and hypointense . The relative signal strengths depend to a large extent on the physical parameters such as magnetic field strength and pulse sequence, which are therefore always stated in the report.

In computed tomography one speaks of hyper- , hypo- and isodensity .

See also: Image assessment in magnetic resonance imaging

literature

• M. Reiser , W. Semmler (Ed.): Magnetic resonance tomography. 3. Edition. Springer, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-540-66668-0 .