Abstract
Purpose::
Diagnostic uncertainty of intraocular processes without showing characteristic clinical findings, diagnostic confirmation before treatment and an increasing interest for further genetic and immunocytological information in order to characterize the neoplasm are major indications for performing biopsy. We have developed a new surgical technique using a special intraocular biopsy forceps which allows getting more informative sufficient sample with less expense and risk as current methods.
Methods::
15 patients with uncertain intraocular mass got biopsies performed by the special biopsy forceps. Four of 15 were biopsies from iris, 11 of 15 from choroid. The pathway for iris biopsy was as usual through a paracentese in local anesthesia, choroidal biopsies were performed under general anesthesia through a standard three-port vitrectomy. For further processing the specimen were submitted immidiately to the cytopthologists after flushing out in isotonic saline solution.
Results::
All biopsies were successfull in getting enough specimen for histologic examination. There were no intra- and postoperative complications except only a sporadic punctual bleeding on the region of getting the sample in two cases.
Conclusions::
Performing biopsy by the new developed biopsy forceps is a new promising approach suitable for both transretinal and transscleral pathway, further for iris and choroidal tumors. Especially for solid tumors this technique has an advance in getting enough specimen with a united cell structure instead of a cell suspension for improving the histological examination and lowest risk for complications.
Keywords: tumors • melanoma • cytology