Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To provide clinical and histological data of eyes treated with en bloc resection of choroidal tumors after a follow up of 13 to 25 years. This includes cases from one of the first series published in 1975 (GOH Naumann et al.). Methods: Case series of 24 eyes treated for choroidal tumours. Surgical procedure: Globe–preserving tumour removal by en–bloc sclerocorneal resection preceeded by cryotherapy, wound closure by corneal transplantation. Follow up by questionnaires to patients and physicians and by ophthalmological examination. Histological work–up by routine histology and immunohistology. Results: The postinterventional course of 23 patients could be completely followed. 13 patients were lost after 25 years. 6 patients died of metastatic disease, 6 died of unrelated diseases. 11 patients were available for clinical investigation. 3 eyes had to be removed and 2 were available for histological investigation. Local recurrence occured as late as 12 years after initial surgery. The eyes available for clinical investigation had a visual acuity of 0.1 up to 0.8 and had been stable for at least 15 years. Conclusions: Despite the changes made to the technique of globe –preserving intraocular tumor removal since the first reports, the initial technique used 25 years ago was able to conserve eyes with sight threatening tumors effectively. Late recurrence of malignant melanoma can be detected even after more than 10 years; this emphasizes the need for long term follow up.