2.
Vitreoretinal Correlation in Ultrasound
Stefan Clemens (Greifswald)
Introduction: Currently commercially available equipments for ultrasonography with B-scan
contain a 10 MHZ transducer faintly focussed in the posterior vitreous cavity. Are the informations
of further relevance for indications at the vitreoretinal border?
Subject: Vitreoretinal adhesion syndroms and epiretinal membranes where examined with high
resolution laser imagination procedures and ultrasonography for sensitivity in different physiologic
and pathologic structures.
Results: With ultrasound B-scan one quadrant can be depicted simultaneously including vitreoretinal
adherences and membranes. Motility phenomena can be seen during movement of
patient eyes. The gel compartment of the vitreous can be delineated. Disadvantages of ultrasound
are the much lesser axial resolution 10 fold and transverse 40 fold less than laser imaging.
By ultrasound examination through hazy media is possible. Membranes in laser imaging can be visualized independent
of the rectangular impact of energy. Ultrasound is inferior in delineating cystic processes of the central retina.
Discussion: Laser imaging gives sufficient information for surgical indications at the vitreoretinal interface. Additionally by
ultrasound topographic relations around the whole rear part of the vitreoretinal correlation can be imaginated simultaneously.
Connections of gel compartments via membranes to the retina can be differentiated for maybe better summarising the
mechanical adhesion effect at the retinal border.
Summary: Ultrasond gives additional information about the vitreoretinal interface comparing to laser imaging and may be
useful in questions of topography, compartmentalisation of the vitreous and appropriate adhesion effects.