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Precision of ultrasonic estimates of choroidal melanoma regression
1Department of Ophthalmology, Arhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 55, DK-8000 Arhus C, Denmark. kommrr@aau.dk
Background:
Important prognostic information may be gained from knowledge of the volume and, over time, the change in volume of intraocular tumors such as choroidal melanomas.
Methods:
The precision and time consumption of three different ultrasonographic methods were evaluated. Seven choroidal melanomas were analysed after placement of a ruthenium plaque and again after tumor regression had occurred. Perpendicular ultrasound B-scans were printed and analysed by overlay grid counting or outline tracing of tumor structures to calculate the volume. These two methods, using only two perpendicular scans, were compared with a micro-computer-controlled ultrasonographic three-dimensional rotation scanning system, where each tumor was manually outlined in 20 revolving scan planes
Results:
The three-dimensional volume scanning method was the most precise, but also the most demanding in hardware and time consumption.
Conclusion:
Increased precision and less observer-dependent estimation of shrinkage rate after radiotherapy is available at the cost of sophisticated equipment.