title: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for predicting and detecting the response of ocular melanoma to proton beam therapy: initial results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for prediction and early detection of response to proton beam therapy in ocular melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten ocular melanoma patients treated with proton beam therapy were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent conventional MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) before the start of therapy, and after 1, 3 and 6 months of therapy. Tumour volumes and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ocular lesions were measured at each examination. Tumour volumes and mean ADC measurements of the four examination series were compared; correlation of ADC values and tumour regression was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ADC value of ocular melanomas significantly increased as early as 3 months after therapy; tumour volume significantly decreased as early as 6 months after therapy. The ADC values of ocular melanomas before therapy significantly correlated with tumour regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI may provide an early surrogate biomarker for prediction and early detection of tumour response to eye-preserving therapies in ocular melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche, Università di Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123, Catania, Italy, pietrofoti@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pietro Valerio
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coronella
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmucci
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montana
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sigona
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Teresio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Avitabile
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puzzo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ettorre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061766:Proton Therapy / Q000379:methods; D047368:Tumor Burden