MRT OF THE EYE - NORMAL ANATOMY AND DETEC TION OF MINUTE LESIONS VIA A HIGH-RESOLUTION SURFACE COIL

Purpose: A new high-resolution surface coil for MRI of the eye was eva luated with regard to practicability, image quality and sensitivity fo r small lesions.Material and methods: 48 patients in whom a space-occu pying lesion of the eye or orbit was suspected were examined (1.5 T to mograph, 5 cm surface coil, T-1- and T-2-weighted spin-echo sequences, the former before and after i.v. gadolinium DTPA). Results: 45/48 pat ients tolerated MR with the high-resolution surface coil. No adverse e ffects were experienced. by the patients. In 11/48 patients a space oc cupying lesion of the eye was detected (melanoma, 5; metastases, 2; ha emorrhage, 1; malformation, hamartoma and scarring after melanoma, one each). The smallest detectable lesion had a thickness of < 1 mm. Conc lusion: First experiences with the high-resolution surface coil indica te that this device is suited for detection of very small lesions of t he eye.