Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the relationship between patient and tumor characteristics and chromosome 3 status in small choroidal melanoma.
Methods: :
Retrospective review of the clinical records of patients with small choroidal melanoma who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for genetic testing for chromosome 3 status between November 2005 and August 2007 on the Oncology Service at Wills Eye Institute. FNAB was performed immediately before plaque radiotherapy via pars plana transvitreal approach using a 27-gauge long needle. Genetic analysis was done using DNA amplification and microsatellite assay and the patients were divided into monosomy 3, disomy 3, and inconclusive data groups.
Results: :
Of 108 patients, 32 (30%) had monosomy 3, 59 (55%) demonstrated disomy 3, and 17 (15%) had insufficient/inconclusive DNA samples. The median patient age in both the monosomy 3 and disomy 3 groups was 58 years. 65% of patients in the monosomy 3 group had blue/green iris vs. 66% in the disomy group. With respect to tumor characteristics, monosomy 3 patients demonstrated the following (as compared to disomy 3 patients): thickness over 2 millimeters in 75% (vs. 78%), subretinal fluid in 88% (vs. 86%), symptoms in 38% (vs. 53%), orange pigment in 69% (vs. 78%), location within 3 millimeters to the optic disc margin in 50% (vs. 53%), drusen in 22% (vs. 24%), acoustic hollowness on B-scan ultrasonography in 91% (vs. 88%), and documented growth in 66% (vs. 46%).
Keywords: choroid • melanoma • genetics