Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Background: Eye disorders such as retinal detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, ocular tumors, and optic nerve abnormalities can significantly affect vision and overall eye health. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for determining appropriate treatment strategies. Ocular ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two commonly used modalities for diagnosing eye problems. This study aims to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of ocular ultrasound and MRI in the evaluation of various ocular pathologies.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 50 patients who underwent both ocular ultrasound and MRI for the evaluation of various eye conditions. Patients were recruited from Benha University Hospitals and select centers in Iraq from July 1, 2023, to February 1, 2024. Both diagnostic tools were used to assess acute and chronic ocular issues such as retinal detachments (RD), vitreous hemorrhages (VH), posterior vitreous detachments (PVD), and ocular tumors. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with statistical significance set at p≤0.05.

Results: Among the 50 patients, 62% were male, and the mean age was 44.2±10.9 years. Ocular ultrasound identified retinal detachment in 27.77% of cases, PVD in 5.55%, and optic nerve drusen in 5.55%. MRI detected retinal detachment in 37.5%, PVD in 20.83%, and optic nerve drusen in 29.16%. A statistically significant difference was found between ultrasound and MRI in the detection of PVD (p=0.044), RD (p=0.046), coloboma (p=0.031), and optic nerve drusen (p=0.024). For chronic ocular problems, ultrasound was more effective in detecting sebaceous cell carcinoma (p=0.002). Overall, ocular ultrasound identified abnormalities in 66% of cases compared to 60% by MRI (p=0.013).

Conclusion: While MRI offers high-resolution imaging and soft tissue contrast, ocular ultrasound is a more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective tool for diagnosing a variety of eye problems. A combined approach, leveraging both modalities, may offer the most comprehensive evaluation of ocular pathologies.