Tumor Height, Shape and Apex Location


Plaque Simulator follows the COMS convention of describing tumor height as the distance between the tumor apex and the inner sclera directly below the apex. Plaque Simulator models the sclera as being 1 mm thick, so the apex of a 5.6 mm tall tumor would be 6.6 mm from the exterior sclera, and also 6.6 mm from the concave face of the plaque assuming the plaque is in contact with the exterior sclera.

After digitizing the tumor base in the Retinal Diagram window, enter the tumor height and then choose the shape of the mound and the location of the apex.

TumorHeightUS

Ultrasound is the most reliable method of measuring the tumor height and the shape of the dome.

TumorHeightCT

CT and MR can sometimes be used to measure the tumor height for medium and large tumors if the slice spacing is small and the images are not grainy.


Enter the tumor height

In the Retinal Diagram window:

DiagramApexGroup

Click on the Apex button in the tumor controls group. Enter the maximum tumor height from the ultrasound measurement in the dialog and click OK. You can also customize the base margin in this dialog.

Note: tumor height and margin can also be set in the Standard Tumor dialog which is accessed via the Std. button in the tumor controls group.

TumorHeightDialog

Select the tumor shape

In the Retinal Diagram window tumor controls group select:

Dome shaped tumor

DomeButton
USdome1
TumorShapeDome

Peak shaped tumor

PeakButton
USpeak1
TumorShapePeak

Mushroom shaped tumor

TumorStemButton
USmushroom1
TumorShapeMushroom

Ball or button shaped tumor

TumorBallButton
USbutton1
TumorShapeBall

Locate the tumor apex

In the Retinal Diagram window:

Plaque simulator initially places the tumor apex above the geometric center of the tumor base.

TumorApexCentered
TumorApexCenteredMeridian

If the apex is not above the center, set the cursor mode to Drag Apex and then you can click and drag the apex icon (the gray triangle near the middle of the tumor) to the appropriate location. The size of the apex icon is roughly proportional to the tumor height.

DragApexButton

TumorApexOffset
TumorApexOffsetMeridian


Tumor Base Tutorial | Guide Contents