Cancers, Vol. 11, Pages 377: MRI of Uveal Melanoma

Cancers, Vol. 11, Pages 377: MRI of Uveal Melanoma Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers11030377 Authors: Teresa A. Ferreira Lorna Grech Fonk Myriam G. Jaarsma-Coes Guido G. R. van Haren Marina Marinkovic Jan-Willem M. Beenakker Uveal Melanoma (UM) is the most common primary malignant ocular tumor. The high soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution, and the possibility of generating 3D volumetric and functional images, make Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) a valuable diagnostic imaging technique in UM. Current clinical MRI protocols, however, are not optimized for UM and therefore lack the quality for accurate assessments. We therefore developed a dedicated protocol at a 3 Tesla MRI, using an eye coil, consisting of multi-slice 2D sequences, different isotropic sequences and diffusion and perfusion-weighted images. This protocol was prospectively evaluated in 9 uveal melanoma patients. The multi-slice 2D sequences had the highest in-plane resolution, being the most suited for lesion characterization and local extension evaluation. The isotropic 3D Turbo-Spin Echo (TSE) sequences were the most suitable for accurate geometric measurements of the tumor and are therefore important for therapy planning. Diffusion and perfusion-weighted images aid in differentiating benign from malignant lesions and provide quantitative measures on tumor hemodynamics and cellularity, which have been reported to be effective in predicting and assessing treatment outcome. Overall, this ded...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research