title: MR Microscopy of the human eye at 7.1 T and correlation with histopathology-proof of principle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla with small surface coils is a well-established procedure in the diagnosis of masses of the eye and orbital cavity. Until now histological examination has been required to obtain definitive information on tumor extent or possible infiltration of surrounding structures. With ultra-high-field MRI, however, it is possible to evaluate tumor morphology as well as possible extension into surrounding structures with submillimeter spatial resolution.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a female patient with a uveal melanoma who underwent a preoperative MRI at 1.5 T (spatial resolution = 0.9 x 0.9 x 4 mm/voxel). Postoperatively, the enucleated specimen was examined in a 7.1 Tesla high-field MRI scanner (slice thickness = 500 µm, matrix size = 512 x 512 pixels, spatial resolution = 78 x 78 x 500 µm/voxel, acquisition time = 8:20 min per plane). Finally, the specimen was examined histologically, and the histological and MRI results were correlated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultra-high-field MRI at 7.1 Tesla visualized the uveal melanoma and anatomical structures of the bulb with high resolution, enabling definitive assessment of tumor morphology and extent. Subsequent histological examination confirmed the MRI findings regarding origin, internal structure, and extent of the tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR microscopy correlates strongly with histology, suggesting that this new imaging modality has the potential for noninvasively assessing tumor morphology, extent, and infiltration of surrounding structures. The examination was performed ex vivo and demonstrates that diagnostic assessment of malignant masses is feasible using high-resolution MR microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Germany. paul-ch.krueger@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Paul-Christian
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stachs
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hadlich
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falke
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbersdobler
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosten
authors.forename: Soenke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langner
mesh_terms: D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*