Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate wound repair after harvesting chorioretinal biopsy specimen at two time intervals after surgery.
Methods: :
Transvitreal chorioretinal biopsy was performed for diagnostic purposes on two eyes of two adult patients. Endodiathermy was used to mark an area of chorioretinal biopsy after completing vitrectomy through three–port pars plana approach. A specimen of the retina and underlying choroid of approximately 6 mm in diameter was excised using vertical scissors. An air fluid exchange was performed and endolaser photocoagulation was applied around the site of the biopsy. The surgical procedure and postoperative course were without complications in both patients. One patient underwent enucleation three months after surgery and the other patient's eyeball was harvested postmortem 18 months after surgery. The enucleated eyes were fixated in 10% formalin. Four micrometer sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) stains. Serial sections were examined with light microscopy.
Results: :
Histopathologic stains showed a layer of fibroblasts located anteriorly to the underlying sclera and filling the defect in the area of excised retina and choroid in both patients. The architecture of neurosensory retina, retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and choroid adjacent to the biopsy site was preserved. Histopathologic findings observed three months after chorioretinal biopsy were similar to those observed after 18 months.
Conclusions: :
These results suggest that wound repair is completed within first three months after chorioretinal biopsy and that minimal trauma to adjacent tissues is induced during or after uncomplicated chorioretinal biopsy.
Keywords: pathology: human • choroid • retina