Possibilities of modern imaging methods in epibulbar lesions diagnostics

Purpose of the study: to determine possibilities of ultrasound examination (US), ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCTA) in epibulbar lesions evaluation.

Materials and methods. 64 patients (66 eyes) aged 41.5 ± 23.0 years with epibulabar lesions of various genesis were included in the study. In all cases US with scaling function and Colour Doppler (CD), UBM and OCT were performed. For qualitative and quantitative evaluation of tumors’ vascularity OCTA was performed with perfusion density (PD) registration.

Results. The use of UBM made possible measurement of tumor thickness in 100.0 % of the cases and measurement of tumor base diameter in 95.6 %. OCT proved to be superior when compared with UBM in evaluation of tumors’ structure and state of conjunctival epithelium. OCT was not informative in assessment of highly pigmented lesions. US with CD allowed evaluation of epibulbar lesions with thickness over 1.4 mm and with base diameter over 3.6 mm. OCTA allowed visualization of tortuous vessels with uneven caliber and distorted course as well as an increase in PD. Signs indicative of malignancy were: maximum PD 50 % or more, 7 or more zones of “lace-like pattern” or at least one zone of “confluent pattern”.

Conclusion. UMB is the most informative method in assessment of biometric parameters of epibulbar lesions. OCTA allows evaluation of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of tumors’ vessels.

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