Normal contrast enhancement of extraocular muscles: fat-suppressed MR findings.

PURPOSE To evaluate contrast enhancement of normal extraocular muscles in the orbit. METHODS Noncontrast and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images of the orbit were acquired using a fat-suppression MR technique in eight patients with no orbital disease. Contrast enhancement of 64 extraocular muscles was evaluated and compared with that of 16 temporal muscles. RESULTS Compared with temporal muscles, all extraocular muscles markedly enhanced after administration of contrast material. CONCLUSIONS Because normal extraocular muscles enhanced markedly with contrast material, more attention should be paid to these muscles when using contrast-enhanced, fat-suppressed T1-weighted MR imaging to evaluate pathologic conditions.