gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

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Autofluorescence in small uveal melanocytic lesions

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author H. Tillack - Department of Ophthalmology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin
  • A.B. Renner - Department of Ophthalmology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin
  • N.E. Bechrakis - Department of Ophthalmology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin
  • U. Kellner - Retinascience, Bonn
  • M.H. Foerster - Department of Ophthalmology, Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogFR.11.07

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog264.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Tillack et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Objective

To identify specific patterns of autofluorescence in melanocytic lesions, which are indicative for either uveal nevi or uveal melanomas, and which thus could allow a more precise non-invasive evaluation of the malignant potential of small uveal melanocytic lesions.

Methods

Between 7/02 and 9/03 Autofluorecence of posteriorly located small and flat melanocytic lesions (27 melanomas and 27 nevi) of 54 patients were examined with a confocal scanning-laser-ophthalmoscope (HRA). The autofluorescence patterns were evaluated masked from the clinical diagnosis and appearance of the lesions by two independent observers (NEB, UK). Autofluorescence was classified as either normal, reduced, spot-like increased, or geographically increased. Diffuse exsudative autofluorescence changes were either noted as present or absent in all cases.

Results

All uveal melanomas had a pathological autofluorescence pattern. 21 melanomas (77,8%) had geographically increased and 5 (18,5%) had spot-like increased autofluorescence pattern. 9 (33,3%) uveal melanomas had exsudative autofluorescence changes, whereas 18 (66,7%) had non. 16 (59,3%) of the uveal nevi had a pathlogical autofluorescence pattern. 4 (14,8%) had geographically increased, and 12 (44,4%) had a spot-like increased autofluorescence pattern. 3 (11,1%) nevi had exsudative autofluorescence changes, whereas 24 (88,9%) had none.

Conclusions

Uveal melanomas and uveal nevi have distinct differences in autofluorescence patterns. Melanomas have more geographically increased autofluorescence, which correlates to orange pigment deposition, whereas uveal nevi have more spot-like increased autofluorescence, which correlates to drusen deposition. These differences might further help in differentiating nevi from small melanomas of the uvea, even without evident drusen or orange pigment deposition.