Optic Nerve Assessment Using 7-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2016 Apr;2(3):178-80. doi: 10.1159/000443650. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to correlate high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histologic findings in a case of juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma with clinical evidence of optic nerve invasion.

Methods: With institutional review board approval, an enucleated globe with choroidal melanoma and optic nerve invasion was imaged using a 7-tesla MRI followed by histopathologic evaluation.

Results: Optical coherence tomography, B-scan ultrasonography, and 1.5-tesla MRI of the orbit (1-mm sections) could not detect optic disc invasion. Ex vivo, 7-tesla MRI detected optic nerve invasion, which correlated with histopathologic features.

Conclusions: Our case demonstrates the potential to document the existence of optic nerve invasion in the presence of an intraocular tumor, a feature that has a major bearing on decision making, particularly for consideration of enucleation.

Keywords: 7-tesla magnetic resonance imaging; Choroidal malignant melanoma; Optic nerve.

Publication types

  • Case Reports