gms | German Medical Science

Background: The transretinal tumor biopsy plays a decisive role as a diagnostic tool in ocular oncology. Biopsyis indicated to confirm a diagnosis before treatment and there is an increasinginterest to obtain a prognosis of micrometastasis in the case of uveal melanoma. This paper will specify on the complications following trensretinal tumour biopsy.

Methods: All in all 179 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. Biopsies were obtained from January 2010 to December 2012. Follow up was 3 to 25 months. All patients underwent a 23G vitrectomy followed by a transretinal biopsy using a special designed 23G forceps. The distinctive feature of this forceps is the inner surface of the flexible tip which garanties a precise and minimal invasive removal of the tissue. Indications for the biopsy were molecular classification in 45%, unknown tumour entitiy in 35%, metastatic disease in 9.5% and suspicion of a recurrence following brachytherapy in 5%.

Results: We noticed the following complications: In 10.6% there was a vitreous bleeding with the need for re-vitrecomy due to nonresorption in 5%. A retinal detachment occured in 5.6% of the patients, 2 patients suffered from a subretinal bleeding and one from a CNV in the biopsy area. There was the need for an anterior chamber revision in 2.2% and in 5.6% we performed a re-biopsy due to absent histopathological diagnosis. A diversion of tumourcells was not noticed in our series.

Conclusion: The transretinal tumour biopsy seems to be a save and efficient procedure with a low rate of complications. This technique allows the histopathological and cytological reprocessing of unknown tumour findings with the possibility to initiate an appropriate treatment.