Ultrasonographic and angiographic follow-up of primary choroidal malignant melanoma after proton beam irradiation therapy

Ophthalmologica. 1998:212 Suppl 1:47-9. doi: 10.1159/000055424.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the ultrasonographic and angiographic follow-up of primary choroidal malignant melanoma (PCMM) after proton beam irradiation therapy in a series of 14 patients. All patients underwent standardized A and B scan ultrasonography, fluorescein and indocyanine green videoangiography (FV, ICGV) before and after treatment with proton beam irradiation. The follow-up was carried out at 1, 3, 5, 8 months and then every 6 months. The mean follow-up was 26 months (range 6-46 months). The thickness of the tumors was demonstrated to be decreased and the internal reflectivity to be enhanced in 12 out of 14 cases from 8 months after treatment till the end of the follow-up period. In 2 eyes which were enucleated 5 months after treatment, histopathology confirmed that medium-low internal reflectivity corresponded to several areas of high cellularity and cellular mitosis. FV and ICGV were impossible because of opacities of dioptric media in 2 cases. From 8 months after treatment till the end of the follow-up period, in all the examined patients, FV demonstrated large hypofluorescent zones of the lesions which represented the destruction of the vascular tree of the tumor. From 8 months after treatment till the end of the follow-up period, ICGV demonstrated hypofluorescence of the lesions in 8 cases; mild hyperfluorescence and zones of colorant staining were present in late angiograms in 2 cases. The results of our study seem to confirm the reliability of standardized A and B scan ultrasonography in the follow-up of PCMM treated with proton beam irradiation; if ultrasonography is used together with FV and ICGV, the reliability of this combination is surely higher.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Choroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Choroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Choroid Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Coloring Agents
  • Fluorescein Angiography*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / radiotherapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitosis
  • Protons
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography
  • Video Recording

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Protons
  • Indocyanine Green