Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used in the diagnosis and treatment planning of uveal melanoma (UM), the most common primary intraocular tumor. Initially, 7 T MRI... Show moreBackground Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used in the diagnosis and treatment planning of uveal melanoma (UM), the most common primary intraocular tumor. Initially, 7 T MRI was primarily used, but more recently these techniques have been translated to 3 T, as it is more commonly available. Purpose Compare the diagnostic performance of 3 T and 7 T MRI of UM. Study Type Prospective. Population Twenty-seven UM patients (19% female). Field Strength/Sequence 3 T: T1- and T2-weighted three-dimensional (3D) spin echo (SE) and multi-slice (MS) SE, 7 T: T1-weighted 3D gradient echo (GE), T2-weighted 3D SE and MS SE, 3 T and 7 T GE dynamic contrast-enhanced. T1 weighted images: acquired before and after Gadolinium (Gd) administration. Assessment For all sequences, scan and diagnostic quality was quantified using a 5-point Likert scale. Signal intensities on T1 and T2 relative to choroid and eye muscle respectively were assessed as well as the tumor prominence. Finally, the perfusion time-intensity curves (TICs) were classified as plateau, progressive, or wash-out. Statistical Tests Image quality scores were compared between both field strengths using Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar tests. Paired t-tests and Bland-Altman were used for comparing tumor prominences. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Image quality was comparable between 3 T and 7 T, for 3DT1, 3DT2, 3DT1Gd (P = 0.86; P = 0.34; P = 0.78, respectively) and measuring tumor dimensions (P = 0.40). 2DT1 and 2DT2 image quality were rated better on 3 T compared to 7 T. Most UM had the same relative signal intensities at 3 T and 7 T on T1 (17/21) and T2 (13/17), and 16/18 diagnostic TICs received the same classification. Tumor prominence measurements were similar between field strengths (95% confidence interval: -0.37 mm to 0.03 mm, P = 0.097). Data Conclusion Diagnostic performance of the evaluated 3 T protocol proved to be as capable as 7 T, with the addition of 3 T being superior in assessing tumor growth into nearby anatomical structures compared to 7 T. Level of Evidence 2 Technical Efficacy Stage 3 Show less
Proton beam therapy (PBT) for uveal melanoma (UM) is performed in sitting position, while the acquisition of the Magnetic resonance (MR)-images for treatment planning is performed in supine... Show moreProton beam therapy (PBT) for uveal melanoma (UM) is performed in sitting position, while the acquisition of the Magnetic resonance (MR)-images for treatment planning is performed in supine position. We assessed the effect of this difference in position on the eye- and tumour- shape. Seven subjects and six UM-patients were scanned in supine and a seating mimicking position. The distances between the tumour/sclera in both positions were calculated. The median distance between both positions was 0.1 mm. Change in gravity direction produced no substantial changes in sclera and tumour shape, indicating that supinely acquired MR-images can be used to plan ocular-PBT. Show less
Objective: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intra-ocular tumour. Treatment is determined by tumour size and location. Generally, smaller tumours are eligible for brachytherapy unless... Show moreObjective: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intra-ocular tumour. Treatment is determined by tumour size and location. Generally, smaller tumours are eligible for brachytherapy unless they are located close to posterior pole. Larger tumours are enucleated or undergo proton beam therapy (PBT), which is more expensive than brachytherapy and less available. Accuracy of tumour size determination is critical for accurate planning and delivery of treatment, particularly to ensure tumour coverage, critical structure sparing, and for the choice of treatment modality. This is particularly the case for tumour dimensions that are close to the cut-off point for a specific type of treatment: in the case of the brachytherapy protocol at our institution, 6-8 mm. Ultrasound is conventionally used, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently become an additional available tool. Although more expensive, it enables more accurate measurements and is particularly useful in combination with clinical fundus examination, fundus photography and ultrasound. Our aim in this paper was to determine the economic value of MRI for UM treatment.Methods: We retrospectively analysed 60 patients' MRI scans acquired as part of a study or for clinical care. For each patient, we assessed whether the extra cost of an MRI generated economic benefit or change in optimal treatment.Results: MRI indicated a smaller tumour prominence than US in 10% of patients with intermediate tumour size, resulting in a change from PBT to brachytherapy. The costs of MRI, (sic)200-(sic)1000, are significantly lower than the higher costs of PBT compared to brachytherapy, (sic)24,000 difference. In addition, the annual total economic burden of severe vision impairment associated with eye removal is (sic)10,000. Furthermore, for patients where ultrasound was impossible due to previous surgery, MRI enabled eye-preserving treatment.Conclusion: An additional MRI for specific patients with UM improves economic value as it enables less expensive treatment in a sufficient percentage of patients to compensate for the MRI costs. Value is increased in terms of quality of care as it enables for some a treatment option which spares more vision. Show less
