Johannes T. Heverhagen PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mohamed Abdel-Rahman MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hendrik von Tengg-Kobligk MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Elson L Craig MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fredrick H Davidorf MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael Vinzenz Knopp MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Petra Schmalbrock PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chastity D Whitaker MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Trong-Kha Truong MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Guang Jia, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate high resolution MRI at ultrahigh field for detailed morphologic assessment of ocular lesions and the eye and to demonstrate additional morphologic features not visualized at conventional technqiues.

9 patients with ocular lesions (malignant melanomas) underwent enucleation of the eye to minimize the risk to develop metastatic disease. Immediately after surgery, the eyeball was scanned with a human sized ultrahigh field MRI scanner using a small volume coil prior to histo-pathological work up. 3D gradient echo sequences (TR 50ms, TE 13ms, FA 25°, slices 32, Matrix: 1024x512, FoV 5.5cm x 5.5 cm) were used. The images were correlated with histopathology.

All eyeballs could be scanned within 4 hours post surgery. Images of the detailed structural morphology of normal tissue (e.g. iris, ciliary body) and the intraocular tumors were obtained with a spatial resolution of about 100 micrometer. The structural images revealed orbital details, not previously seen at 1.5T. The shape and the location of these lesions correlated favorably with their clinical description, and measurements of the tumor size matched those from enucleated eyes. The distribution of pigment within the tumors could be visualized. Tumor vessels between 100μm and 500μm were demonstrated.

We could demonstrate that ultrahigh field MRI is able to reveal structural details of the orbit and ocular tumor surpassing conventional MRI. Due to the intrinsic vessel contrast of the ultrahigh field MRI, vascular structures of about 100 μm could be visualized. Moreover, visualization of the detailed distribution of pigment, hemorrhage and tumor vessels is possible. With the commercially available whole body high field (3 T) and the upcoming clinical ultrahigh field systems (7-8 T), routine in vivo depiction of ultrafine structures of ocular lesions promises to be a valuable adjunct diagnosic tool in the near future in these diagnostically challenging cases.

Heverhagen, J, Abdel-Rahman, M, von Tengg-Kobligk, H, Craig, E, Davidorf, F, Knopp, M, Schmalbrock, P, Whitaker, C, Truong, T, Jia, G, et al, , High Resolution MRI of the Eye and Intraocular Lesions at Ultrahigh Field-An ex Vivo Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4407090.html