Abstract

FR.19.07

Micro-MRI of the human eye at 7 Tesla after cataract surgery – a pilot study

Paul-Christian Krüger1, Sönke Langner1, Oliver Stachs2, Rudolf Guthoff2, Norbert Hosten1
1Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Greifswald der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, 2Universitäts-Augenklinik Rostock

Objective
Highfield-Magnetresonanceimaging (HF-MRI) offers an excellent soft tissue contrast with a  spatial resolutions in the range of µm and enables distortion free imaging along all axis. The aim of our study was to compare the postoperative anatomy of the human eye after lens replacement surgery with native eyes.
Methods
Seven human eyes were studied ex vivo. Examinations were performed on a 7 Tesla micro-MRI (ClinScan, Bruker, Germany) using a 1-channel coil with 2 coil elements. T2-weighted turbospin-echo (TSE)-sequences with a slice thickness of 700 µm were acquired in coronal and sagittal planes. The in-plane resolution was 50 x 50 µm. Other imaging parameters were TE 75 ms, TR 3330 ms, Matrix 10242 at a Field of View of 40 x 40 mm. Examination time was 8:16 min for each plane.
Results
Distortion free imaging of the eye was possible in all cases. In native eyes imaging of the lens with lenscapsula and ciliary muscle was possible at high spatial resolution. In operated eyes the capsular bag, ciliar body and lens replacement could be imaged distortion free. Differentiation of sclera, choroidea and retina succeeded in every case. In one case we found a concomitant uveal melanoma, in a second case a subretinal hemorrhage.
Conclusions
HF-MRI enables high-resolution imaging of anatomic and pathologic structures of the human eye. Imaging of the equatorial lens and the retroiridian region without optical distortions opens a particularly wide range of experimental applications in lens surgery.

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