Porous Versus Nonporous Orbital Implants After Enucleation for Uveal Melanoma: A Randomized Study.

PURPOSE: To compare hydroxyapatite with acrylic implants after enucleation for uveal melanoma with respect to eyelid position, ocular motility, implant complications, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Patients undergoing primary enucleation for uveal melanoma between May 2005 and November 2012 at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, United Kingdom, were randomized between hydroxyapatite and acrylic implants. Questionnaires were sent to patients and ocularists to comment on the main outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 416 patients were recruited in the study, of whom 281 were included, with 49.5% (139/281) and 50.5% (142/281) receiving a hydroxyapatite (HA) or acrylic (AC) implant. Mailed questionnaires completed at ≥18 months by patients showed no significant differences between the groups in eyelid position, prosthetic motility, socket complications, and patient satisfaction. Complications included implant extrusion (1% vs 4%), enophthalmos (26% vs 26%), and superior sulcus deformity (24% vs 24%) with HA and AC implants, respectively, (Fisher exact test p > 0.0125 in all, Bonferroni correction). Questionnaires completed by ocularists indicated no significant differences in eyelid opening, prosthetic motility, and other complications at 6 months (Fisher exact test, p > 0.05 in all); there was a higher prevalence of ptosis with AC than HA implants (46% vs 25%, p = 0.03) and a greater need for ocularists' treatment with HA than AC (50% vs 28%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported outcomes after enucleation for uveal melanoma indicate no major differences between hydroxyapatite and acrylic implants in surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction. There was a higher prevalence of ptosis with AC and a greater need of ocularists' visits with HA at around 6 months observed by ocularists.

Transretinal choroidal tumor biopsy with a 25-gauge vitrector.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate transretinal biopsy of choroidal tumors using 25-gauge vitrectomy instrumentation. DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen patients undergoing choroidal tumor biopsy at an ocular oncology center. METHODS: The biopsies were performed under local or general anesthesia, alone or in combination with ruthenium plaque or tantalum marker insertion. Immunohistochemistry was performed on all samples, and some melanomas were also analyzed cytogenetically. RESULTS: Surgery was uneventful in all cases. A positive tissue diagnosis was made in 13 of 14 patients, albeit at the second attempt in 1 patient. The only failure occurred because the tumor was calcified. CONCLUSION: Transretinal choroidal biopsy with 25-gauge instrumentation yields a larger sample than fine-needle aspiration biopsy, usually producing sufficient tissue for cytogenetic studies. We did not identify safety concerns in this series of patients. Insufficient samples can occur in some patients, and further studies are needed to understand the reason for such failure.

Presymptomatic diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma associated with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation.

A 62-year-old man presented with bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferations (BDUMP) and painful flexor contractures of the fingers of both hands. All these features were considered paraneoplastic but extensive and repeated investigations revealed no underlying malignancy. Oral steroids and orbital radiotherapy were ineffective. The diagnosis was confirmed by trans-scleral biopsy of the right choroid. Rapidly progressive cataracts were treated by phacoemulsification. Severe exudative retinal detachment with rubeosis and neovascular glaucoma in the left eye were treated successfully by partial choroidectomy. Fifteen months after presentation, investigations detected a 22 mm, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, which was resected without complication. The ocular tumours in both eyes regressed, without improvement in vision of Light Perception, and the palmar fasciitis also improved. The patient remained free of tumour recurrence until sudden death from myocardial infarction five years after he first presented.