The role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of uveal melanoma

Abstract

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the potential role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma.MethodsRetrospective case series involving a total of 10 patients, 9 with uveal melanoma and 1 with a suspicious melanocytic lesion, diagnosed by A‐mode and B‐mode ultrasound (US) scan. 6 of the 10 patients simultaneously performed MRI for diagnostic purposes. The results of both modalities were compared with respect to lesion dimensions, extra‐scleral extension and presence of retinal detachment (RD).ResultsIn this case series, 4 patients were diagnosed with uveal melanoma based exclusively on echographic findings and 6 patients underwent both US and MRI for diagnostic purposes. The MRI excluded the diagnosis of uveal melanoma in one patient with suspected US imaging. In the remaining 5 patients that underwent both modalities, we did not identify significant differences in lesion dimensions. Extra‐scleral extension was not identified in this subgroup by US, and MRI findings corroborated these results. With respect to RD, it was identified in 2 of these 6 subjects by US but MRI failed to identify a discrete RD in one of the subjects.ConclusionsThe present case series focused on the differences between US and MRI in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma in order to assess the potential role of MRI in such cases. We did not find any difference in diagnostic accuracy, lesion dimensions and detection of extra‐scleral extension between the two modalities, except for one patient with a suspected lesion on US that was excluded with MRI. US, however, was found to be more sensitive than MRI in the diagnosis of RD, detecting a small RD not identified by MRI. The authors identify as main limitation the small number of subjects included in the case study. Further studies involving a greater number of patients are necessary to precisely determine the role of MRI in diagnosis of uveal melanoma.