scholarly journals Detecting Progression of Melanocytic Choroidal Tumors by Sequential Imaging: Is Ultrasonography Necessary?

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey A. Roelofs ◽  
Roderick O’Day ◽  
Lamis Al Harby ◽  
Gordon Hay ◽  
Amit K. Arora ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine if ultrasonography is necessary to detect progression of choroidal melanocytic tumors undergoing sequential multi-modal imaging with color photography, autofluorescence (AF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: All patients with choroidal melanoma undergoing treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital between January 2016 and March 2020 were reviewed to identify those with treatment deferred by ≥2 months. Tumors that showed progression prior to treatment, defined as an increase in (a) basal dimensions (b) thickness (c) orange pigment and/or (d) sub-retinal fluid, were included. Mushroom shape, Orange pigment, Large size, Enlargement and Sub-retinal fluid (MOLES) scores were assigned to all tumors at earliest date and date of treatment. Results: A total of 99 patients with a mean age of 66 years (range: 26–90) were included. The initial MOLES score was 1 in 2 cases, 2 in 23 cases, and ≥3 in 74 cases. Progression was detected with sequential color photography alone in 100% of MOLES 1/2 and 97% of lesions with a MOLES score of ≥3. When findings on AF and OCT were included, sensitivity for detecting subtle change without ultrasonography improved to 100% for MOLES 3 and 97% for MOLES 4/5. Only one patient included in this study had an isolated increase in thickness that may have been missed had sequential ultrasonography not been performed. Overall, the sensitivity for detecting progression with color photographs alone was 97% (95% CI 93–100%) and increased to 99% (95% CI 97–100%) by including autofluorescence and OCT. Conclusions: Monitoring of choroidal nevi, particularly those classified as MOLES 1 or 2 (i.e., low-risk or high-risk naevi), can be accomplished safely without the need for ultrasonography. The findings of this study may remove barriers to the implementation of tele-oncology clinics for the monitoring of choroidal melanocytic tumors.

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey A. Roelofs ◽  
Roderick O’Day ◽  
Lamis Al Harby ◽  
Amit K. Arora ◽  
Victoria M.L. Cohen ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate the MOLES system for identifying malignancy in melanocytic choroidal tumors in patients treated for choroidal melanoma. Methods: Records of 615 patients treated for choroidal melanoma between January 2017 and December 2019 were reviewed. Patients were excluded if iris and/or ciliary body involvement (106 patients), inadequate fundus photography (26 patients), no images available for review (21 patients) and/or treatment was not primary (11 patients). Demographic data and AJCC TNM Stage were collected. Color fundus and autofluorescence photographs (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and B-scan ultrasounds were prospectively reviewed. MOLES scores were assigned according to five criteria: mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlarging tumor and subretinal fluid. Results: A total of 451 patients (mean age, 63.9 ± 13.9 years) were included. At treatment, mean largest basal tumor diameter (LBD) and thickness were 10.3 ± 2.8 mm (range, 3.0–23.0) and 4.3 mm (range, 1.0–17.0). All but one (0.2%) had MOLES scores of ≥3. Eighty-two patients were treated after surveillance lasting a mean of 1.5 years. Initially, most (63/82; 76.8%) had a MOLES score ≥ 3. Importantly, none of the 451 tumors had a score of <2, and as such, the MOLES protocol would have indicated referral to an ocular oncologist for 100% of patients. Conclusion: The MOLES scoring system is a sensitive (99.8%) tool for indicating malignancy in melanocytic choroidal tumors (MOLES ≥ 3). If the examining practitioner can recognize the five features suggestive of malignancy, MOLES is a safe tool to optimize referral of melanocytic choroidal tumors for specialist care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 723-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Garcia-Arumi Fuste ◽  
Federico Peralta Iturburu ◽  
Jose Garcia-Arumi

Purpose: To describe the imaging features of choroidal nevus and melanoma using optical coherence tomography angiography, and evaluate the ability of this technique to establish the differential diagnosis based on the display of the tumor’s intrinsic vasculature. Methods: Comparative analysis of optical coherence tomography angiography findings in consecutive patients diagnosed with choroidal nevus or choroidal melanoma following a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity and several imaging studies: color fundus photography, B-scan ultrasound, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to investigate qualitative differences in the tumor vasculature. Results: Thirty-six eyes (18 cases of choroidal nevus and 18 cases of choroidal melanoma) from 36 consecutive patients were included in the study. Only cases located posterior to equator were included to enable performance of all tests. On optical coherence tomography angiography, choroidal nevus showed well-delimited margins (78%), hyperreflective choroid capillary vasculature (83%), fewer avascular areas (17%), and neovascular membrane in one case (6%). Choroidal melanoma showed imprecise margins (72%), hyporeflective choroidal capillary vasculature (72%), multiple avascular areas (78%), and choroidal vascular changes (e.g. thick vascular networks or vascular loops; 45%). Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography angiography can provide useful information for assessing and differentiating between choroidal nevi and small melanomas. Significant differences between these conditions were found for the pattern of reflectivity, and presence/absence of avascular zones and vascular anomalies, which could be helpful for supporting the diagnosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Lamis Al Harby ◽  
Mandeep S. Sagoo ◽  
Roderick O’Day ◽  
Gordon Hay ◽  
Amit K. Arora ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the MOLES scoring system in differentiating choroidal melanomas from nevi according to Mushroom shape, Orange pigment, Large tumor size, Enlarging tumor, and Subretinal fluid (SRF). Methods: Color photographs, fundus-autofluorescence images, and optical coherence tomography of 222 melanocytic choroidal tumors were reviewed. Each MOLES feature was retrospectively scored between 0 and 2 and tumors categorized as “common nevus,” “low-risk nevus,” “high-risk nevus,” and “probable melanoma” according to the total score. MOLES scores were compared with the experts’ diagnosis of melanoma. Results: The MOLES scoring system indicated melanoma in all 81 tumors diagnosed as such by ocular oncologists (100% sensitivity) and nevus in 135 of 141 tumors given this diagnosis by these experts (95.7% specificity). Of the 6 tumors with discordant diagnoses, 4 had basal diameters exceeding 6 mm, all with SRF and/or orange pigment, and 2 small tumors showed either significant SRF with traces of orange pigment, or vice versa. Conclusions: The MOLES system for diagnosing melanocytic choroidal tumors compares well with expert diagnosis but needs to be evaluated when deployed by ophthalmologists and community optometrists in a wide variety of working environments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-472
Author(s):  
S. V. Saakyan ◽  
E. B. Myakoshina ◽  
M. R. Khlgatyan ◽  
N. V. Sklyarova

Purpose: To study the features of small choroidal melanoma and choroidal nevi angioarchitectonics using the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Patients and methods. We examined 128 patients with small choroidal neoplasms: 41 — with small choroidal melanoma (group 1), 42 — with suspicious nevi (group 2) and 45 — with benign nevi (group 3). All patients underwent general ophthalmic examinations and special instrumental diagnostic methods (ultrasound examination (US), fluorescence angiography (FA), spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT), OCTA).Results. OCTA in all patients with small choroidal melanoma showed neovascular network under retinal pigment epithelium. We found a looped, cranked-twisted, heterogeneous vascular network with uneven clearance and with numerous bends and weaves, located under the vessels of retina. The limiting avascular zone corresponding to the tumor slope was determined in 19 (46.3 %) of 41 cases. There was a rim of dilated hyperreflective choriocapillaries on the periphery of the tumor. We identified hyperreflective homogeneous enlarged choriocapillaries in the focus area with a brighter glow than the surrounding choriocapillaries in 39 (92.9 %) of 42 patients with suspicious choroidal nevus. We detected an avascular zone with surrounding extended hyperreflective choriocapillaries in the center of the nevus in 3 (7.1 %) of 42 cases. We diagnosed homogeneous isoreflective choriocapillaries similar in brightness to the surrounding vessels in all 45 patients with benign nevi.Conclusions. Thus, the complex of clinical and instrumental methods, including OCTA, makes it possible to establish the diagnosis of malignant tumor of the choroid in early stages. At the same time, OCTA: 1) allows to visualize of the tumor vessels in the choroidal layer in 100 % of cases of in small choroidal melanoma; 2) makes it possible to distinguish the newly formed tumor vessels from the choriocapillaries in case of small choroidal melanoma; 3) provides an opportunity to establish the correct diagnosis and provide timely assistance to patients with benign and malignant choroidal tumors. 


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Vishal Raval ◽  
Shiming Luo ◽  
Emily C. Zabor ◽  
Arun D. Singh

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The aim of the study was to evaluate equivalence of growth rate and pathologic confirmation in small choroidal melanoma (SCM). <b><i>Design:</i></b> This study is a case series. <b><i>Subjects, Participants, and Controls:</i></b> A total of 61 patients with a choroidal melanocytic tumor of size 5.0–16.0 mm in the largest basal diameter and 1.0–2.5 mm in thickness were classified into the pathology-confirmed group (<i>n</i> = 19), growth-confirmed group (<i>n</i> = 30), and with combined observations (<i>n</i> = 12). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Distribution of clinical variables (age, gender, laterality, tumor dimensions, tumor location, and presence of orange pigment, subretinal fluid, drusen, and retinal pigment epithelial [RPE] atrophy) between the groups was analyzed. Patient and disease characteristics were summarized as the median and interquartile range for continuous variables and the frequency and percentage for categorical variables. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and either Fisher’s exact test or the χ<sup>2</sup> test for categorical variables with a <i>p</i> value threshold of 0.05 for statistical significance. Growth rate (change in basal dimension/12 months) diagnostic of SCM was quantified. <b><i>Main Outcome Measures:</i></b> The primary aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that “growth” was diagnostic of SCM with the secondary aim of quantifying the malignant “growth rate” (growth rate of SCM). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The clinical characteristics among all 3 groups were similar except more patients with symptoms (68 vs. 20 vs. 42%, <i>p</i> = 0.004) and juxtapapillary location (<i>p</i> = 0.03) were in the pathology group than in the growth-confirmed group. Those in the combined and growth-confirmed groups had more patients with drusen (11 vs. 60 vs. 50%, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and RPE atrophy (11 vs. 23 vs. 67%, <i>p</i> = 0.003), respectively, than in the pathology group. The median time to detect growth was 9 months (range 3–26 months). The mean growth rate in basal dimension was 1.8 mm/12 months (range, 0.0–7.4 mm; [95% CI: 1.32–2.28]). <b><i>Conclusions and Relevance:</i></b> Choroidal melanocytic lesions exhibiting a defined growth rate can be clinically diagnosed as SCM without a need for biopsy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicktoria Vishnevskia-Dai ◽  
Dinah Zur ◽  
Shiran Yaacobi ◽  
Iris Moroz ◽  
Hadas Newman ◽  
...  

Purpose.To investigate the value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for differentiation between choroidal melanoma and metastasis based on characteristics of the anterior choroidal surface and the chorioretinal interface.Methods.This retrospective observational case series included 29 patients with untreated choroidal melanomas and 21 patients with untreated choroidal metastases. Regularity and lobularity characteristics of the anterior choroidal surface were evaluated in a masked manner. Retinal and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) findings were documented as well.Results.OCT demonstrated a regular and smooth anterior choroidal surface in 89.7% of the eyes with melanoma and in 47.6% of the eyes with metastasis (p=0.002; sensitivity = 89.7%; specificity = 52.4%). The anterior choroidal contour was lobulated in 81.0% of the eyes with metastasis versus 17.2% of the eyes with melanoma (p<0.001; sensitivity = 82.8%; specificity = 81.0%). RPE thickness and neuroretinal characteristics (e.g., retinal thickness, the presence of cysts, and the presence of subretinal fluid) were similar in both choroidal tumors.Conclusion. OCT may serve as a noninvasive adjunctive tool for the differential diagnosis of choroidal tumors. Choroidal melanomas usually demonstrate regular surfaces on OCT, while choroidal metastases usually have an irregular and lobulated surface.


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