Iris and ciliary body melanomas: ultrasound biomicroscopy with histopathologic correlation

To correlate ultrasound biomicroscopic images of iris and ciliary body melanomas with their histopathologic features.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed in 3 cases of iris melanoma and in 3 cases of ciliary body melanoma. Cross-sectional ultrasound biomicroscopic images were compared with findings from clinical examination and light microscopy to evaluate associations between their histopathologic, surface, and internal ultrasound characteristics. Unique images of intrastomal and obscured posterior tumor margins were visualized by ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Results of this study revealed that ultrasound biomicroscopy offers an accurate method to evaluate tumor shape, reflectivity, and local invasion. Neoplastic tissue had only medium echogenicity. Enlarged vessels were correlated to echolucent spaces in the iris stroma. Anterior tumor margins were found within the iris stroma, within the anterior chamber angle, and on the endothelial surface of the cornea. Posterior tumor extension was noted to encroach onto the lens, into the sclera, and serous peripheral retinal detachments were associated with ciliary body tumors.

Ultrasound biomicroscopic images correlated well with histopathologic features of anterior uveal melanomas including shape, reflectivity, and local extension. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1515-1521