Near-real time oculodynamic MRI: a feasibility study for evaluation of diplopia in comparison with clinical testing

Objective To demonstrate feasibility of near-real-time oculodynamic magnetic resonance imaging (od-MRI) in depicting extraocular muscles and correlate quantitatively the motion degree in comparison with clinical testing in patients with diplopia. Methods In 30 od-MRIs eye movements were tracked in the horizontal and sagittal plane using a a TrueFISP sequence with high temporal resolution. Three physicians graded the visibility of extraocular muscles by a qualitative scale. In 12 cases, the maximal monocular excursions in the horizontal and vertical direction of both eyes were measured in od-MRIs and a clinical test and correlated by the Pearson test. Results The medial and lateral rectus muscles were visible in the axial plane in 93% of the cases. The oblique, superior and inferior rectus muscles were overall only in 14% visible. Horizontal ( p = 0,015) and vertical ( p = 0,029) movements of the right eye and vertical movement of the left eye ( p = 0,026) measured by od-MRI correlated positively to the clinical measurements. Conclusions Od-MRI is a feasible technique. Visualization of the horizontal/vertical rectus muscles is better than for the superior/inferior oblique muscle. Od-MRI correlates well with clinical testing and may reproduce the extent of eye bulb motility and extraocular muscle structural or functional deteriorations. Key Points • Oculodynamic MRI technique helps clinicians to assess eye bulb motility disorders • MRI evaluation of eye movement provides functional information in cases of diplopia • Oculodynamic MRI reproduces excursion of extraocular muscles with good correlation with clinical testing • Dynamic MRI sequence supplements static orbital protocol for evaluation of motility disorders