Ocular and orbital lesions: surface coil MR imaging

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Ocular and orbital lesions require accurate imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers high soft-tissue contrast for evaluating these complex anatomical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of 1.5 T magnetic resonance surface coil imaging in characterizing small ocular and orbital lesions.
• To compare MRI performance with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) for orbital lesion visualization.

Main Methods:

• Nine ocular and orbital lesions were imaged using a 1.5 T MRI scanner with surface coils.
• Two distinct pulse sequences were employed to assess lesion characterization and differentiation.
• Image quality and contrast were compared between MRI and high-resolution CT.

Main Results:

• MRI successfully demonstrated small ocular lesions, including those with 3.9-4.5 mm elevation.
• Specific pulse sequences enabled differentiation between melanoma and adjacent retinal detachment.
• MRI provided superior contrast for orbital lesions compared to high-resolution CT.

Conclusions:

• 1.5 T MRI with surface coils is a valuable tool for imaging small ocular and orbital lesions.
• Advanced MRI techniques enhance diagnostic accuracy for intraocular and orbital pathologies.
• MRI offers advantages over CT in visualizing orbital lesion-to-tissue contrast.