Ultrasonographic, three-dimensional scanning for determination of intraocular tumor volume

Important prognostic information may be gained from knowing the volume of intraocular tumors, such as choroidal melanomas. To measure such volume, we developed an ultrasonographic 3-D scanning system, which operates by an axial, back and forth, half-turn rotation of a commercial sector scanning transducer, applied directly onto a closed eyelid. Control of movement, data acquisition, and image analysis are accomplished by means of a microcomputer and application-specific software. The elapsed time for scanning and digitizing 11 cross-sectional images across a human eyeball, is 4 sec. Outlines of specific structures are traced manually. The system was tested through repeated, in vitro measurements of known volumes of meat; the mean variation coefficient of these measurements was 2.8%. While accurate estimates were obtained on volumes between 0.01-0.25 ml, these are linearly dependent on gain setting. A patient with a choroidal melanoma was scanned repetitively. The procedures of scanning and tracing contributed about equally to the total variance. This method of scanning allows repeatable, reliable, and easily generated measurements of a tumor's volume and, thus, has great potential for use in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant, intraocular tumors.