Comparison of transillumination and histologic slide measurements of choroidal melanoma.

PubMed ID: 9109755

Author(s): Umlas J, Diener-West M, Robinson NL, Green WR, Grossniklaus HE, Albert DM. Comparison of transillumination and histologic slide measurements of choroidal melanoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 1997 Apr;115(4):474-7. PMID 9109755

Journal: Archives Of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960), Volume 115, Issue 4, Apr 1997

OBJECTIVE To compare transillumination and histologic slide measurements of choroidal melanomas in 479 eyes randomized to enucleation in the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study.

DESIGN Transillumination defects were measured during gross examination of enucleated eyes. Tumor basal diameter and height were measured on histologic slides and each tumor was assigned to 1 of 8 distinct shape categories. Comparison of the transillumination and histologic slide measurements revealed 3 categories of difference: underestimation (transillumination measurement more than 4 mm smaller than the histologic slide measurement), overestimation (transillumination measurement more than 4 mm larger than the histologic slide measurement), and agreement within 4 mm.

RESULTS There was good correlation between transillumination and histologic slide estimates of largest basal diameter, particularly when the basal diameter was 16 mm or less. Measurement discrepancies were related to the shape of the tumors but not to the presence of subretinal fluid or fixation.

CONCLUSION Agreement was high between measurements of transillumination defect and histologic sections.