Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Rapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert. METHODS: Patients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation. The standard reference MGITTM 960 was compared with Xpert (arm 1) and LPA (arm 2). Effectiveness was considered as the start of the appropriate TB regimen that matched drug susceptibility testing (DST) and the proportions of culture conversion and favorable treatment outcomes after 6 months. RESULTS: A higher rate of empirical treatment was observed with MGIT alone than with the Xpert assay (97.0% vs. 45.0%) and LPA (98.2% vs. 67.5%). Patients started appropriate TB treatment more quickly than those in the MGIT group (median 15.0 vs. 40.5 days; p<0.01) in arm 1. Compared to the MGIT group, culture conversion after 6 months was higher for Xpert in arm 1 (90.9% vs. 79.3%, p=0.39) and LPA in arm 2 (80.0% vs. 83.0%, p=0.81). CONCLUSIONS: In the Xpert arm, there was a significant reduction in days to the start of appropriate anti-TB treatment and a trend towards greater culture conversion in the sixth month.

Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Background: Rapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert. Methods: Patients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation. The standard reference MGITTM 960 was compared with Xpert (arm 1) and LPA (arm 2). Effectiveness was considered as the start of the appropriate TB regimen that matched drug susceptibility testing (DST) and the proportions of culture conversion and favorable treatment outcomes after 6 months. Results: A higher rate of empirical treatment was observed with MGIT alone than with the Xpert assay (97.0% vs. 45.0%) and LPA (98.2% vs. 67.5%). Patients started appropriate TB treatment more quickly than those in the MGIT group (median 15.0 vs. 40.5 days; p<0.01) in arm 1. Compared to the MGIT group, culture conversion after 6 months was higher for Xpert in arm 1 (90.9% vs. 79.3%, p=0.39) and LPA in arm 2 (80.0% vs. 83.0%, p=0.81). Conclusions: In the Xpert arm, there was a significant reduction in days to the start of appropriate anti-TB treatment and a trend towards greater culture conversion in the sixth month.

Screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis: Development and applicability of artificial neural network models.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, motivated by the diversity of healthcare epidemiological settings, as other factors. Cost-effective screening has substantial importance for TB control, demanding new diagnostic tools. This paper proposes a decision support tool (DST) for screening pulmonary TB (PTB) patients at a secondary clinic. The DST is composed of an adaptive resonance model (iART) for risk group identification (low, medium and high) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network for classifying patients as active or inactive PTB. Our tool attains an overall sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 92% (95% CI; 79-97) and 58% (95% CI; 47-68), respectively. SE values for smear-positive and smear-negative patients are 96% (95% CI; 80-99) and 82% (95% CI; 52-95), as well as higher than 83% (95% CI; 43-97) in low and high-risk cases. Even in scenarios with prevalence up to 20%, negative predictive values superior to 95% are obtained. The proposed DST provides a quick and low-cost pretest for presumptive PTB patients, which is useful to guide confirmatory testing and patient management, especially in settings with limited resources in low and middle-incoming countries.

Improving KPCA Online Extraction by Orthonormalization in the Feature Space.

Recently, some online kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) techniques based on the generalized Hebbian algorithm (GHA) were proposed for use in large data sets, defining kernel components using concise dictionaries automatically extracted from data. This brief proposes two new online KPCA extraction algorithms, exploiting orthogonalized versions of the GHA rule. In both the cases, the orthogonalization of kernel components is achieved by the inclusion of some low complexity additional steps to the kernel Hebbian algorithm, thus not substantially affecting the computational cost of the algorithm. Results show improved convergence speed and accuracy of components extracted by the proposed methods, as compared with the state-of-the-art online KPCA extraction algorithms.

Syndrome in question: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome

Abstract: The Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS) is an uncommon disorder caused by a mutation in Patched, tumor suppressor gene. It is mainly characterized by numerous early onset basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic cysts of jaw and skeletal abnormalities. Due to the wide clinical spectrum, treatment and management of its modalities are not standardized and should be individualized and monitored by a multidisciplinary team. We report a typical case in a 30-year-old man with multiple basal cell carcinomas, keratotic pits of palmar creases and bifid ribs, with a history of several corrective surgeries for keratocystic odontogenic tumors, among other lesions characteristic of the syndrome.

A screening system for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis using artificial neural networks.

OBJECTIVES: Molecular tests show low sensitivity for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). A screening and risk assessment system for smear-negative PTB using artificial neural networks (ANNs) based on patient signs and symptoms is proposed. METHODS: The prognostic and risk assessment models exploit a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and inspired adaptive resonance theory (iART) network. Model development considered data from 136 patients with suspected smear-negative PTB in a general hospital. RESULTS: MLP showed higher sensitivity (100%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 78-100%) than the other techniques, such as support vector machine (SVM) linear (86%; 95% CI 60-96%), multivariate logistic regression (MLR) (79%; 95% CI 53-93%), and classification and regression tree (CART) (71%; 95% CI 45-88%). MLR showed a slightly higher specificity (85%; 95% CI 59-96%) than MLP (80%; 95% CI 54-93%), SVM linear (75%, 95% CI 49-90%), and CART (65%; 95% CI 39-84%). In terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the MLP model exhibited a higher value (0.918, 95% CI 0.824-1.000) than the SVM linear (0.796, 95% CI 0.651-0.970) and MLR (0.782, 95% CI 0.663-0.960) models. The significant signs and symptoms identified in risk groups are coherent with clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: In settings with a high prevalence of smear-negative PTB, the system can be useful for screening and also to aid clinical practice in expediting complementary tests for higher risk patients.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis: a case with exuberant cutaneous horns in nipples.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a rare disorder characterized by persistent and recurrent infections by Candida due to changes in cellular immunity and may be associated with autoimmune endocrine disorders. It is refractory to the usual antifungal treatments, which merely control it with imidazole derivatives. This reports the case of a 50-year-old female patient who referred vaginal discharge associated with vulvar ulcerated lesions and whitish plaques on oral and genital mucous membranes of onset in adolescence besides cutaneous horns in nipples. The clinical picture, family history, culture and anatomopathological studies were consistent with chronic infection by candida. Treatment with systemic antifungals obtained partial response of lesions characterizing a clinical picture of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis: a case with exuberant cutaneous horns in nipples

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is a rare disorder characterized by persistent and recurrent infections by Candida due to changes in cellular immunity and may be associated with autoimmune endocrine disorders. It is refractory to the usual antifungal treatments, which merely control it with imidazole derivatives. This reports the case of a 50-year-old female patient who referred vaginal discharge associated with vulvar ulcerated lesions and whitish plaques on oral and genital mucous membranes of onset in adolescence besides cutaneous horns in nipples. The clinical picture, family history, culture and anatomopathological studies were consistent with chronic infection by candida. Treatment with systemic antifungals obtained partial response of lesions characterizing a clinical picture of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis.

Schwannoma em pálpebra superior esquerda em criança de 10 anos / Schwannoma of the left superior eyelid in a 10-year-old child

Schwannoma é um tumor neurogênico benigno raro, originário das células de Schwann da bainha de mielina dos nervos periféricos. Sua localização nos tecidos oculares não é comum, sendo a órbita o local afetado com maior frequência e o acometimento das pálpebras é muito raro. Há poucos relatos descritos na literatura sobre Schwannoma palpebral, apenas dois em crianças. Este é, em nosso conhecimento, o primeiro caso relatado no Brasil.

Schwannoma is a rare benign neurogenic tumor. It arises from Schwann cells located at the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. Its incidence is frequently associated with the orbit. Ocular tissues in general and eyelids in particular are rarely affected. Very few reports can be found in the literature describing eyelid schwannomas. Amongst these, we have found only two describing it affecting children. To our knowledge, this is the first case report about eyelid schwanomma in Brazil - and it involves a child.

Delayed culture conversion due to cigarette smoking in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Although many studies have assessed factors affecting culture conversion during tuberculosis treatment, few have looked into the effect of tobacco smoking. This study included 89 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients with positive sputum culture upon presentation and collected information regarding smoking history and culture conversion after 60 days of therapy. Current smokers had a higher risk (OR 5.6; 95%CI 1.7-18.7) of non-conversion after two months of therapy when compared to never and ex-smokers. Cavities on chest X-ray and alcohol abuse were shown to confound this association. After adjustment for cavities on the chest X-ray and alcohol abuse current smoking compared to current non-smoking remained significantly associated with culture non-conversion at 60 days of treatment (adjusted OR 6.9; 95%CI 1.8-26.7, p = 0.002) with a significant (p = 0.004) trend in adjusted OR with the number of cigarettes smoked daily to 11.6 (1.8-73.4) among those smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. In conclusion tobacco smoking was found to delay culture conversion during treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in a dose-dependent manner. More research is needed to elucidate the effects of smoking on tuberculosis treatment response, and of smoking cessation during tuberculosis treatment.

A morte como: certeza única / Death as: the only certainty

O presente artigo teve seus fundamentos embasados em resultados de longo período de observação e percepção comportamental de vários servidores do Instituto Médico Legal de São Paulo, ao longo do período de convivência profissional com esses servidores e o evento morte, período de experiência de cerca de 35 anos para cada autor, diuturnamente em contato com o ambiente das mais variadas unidades de IMLs como médicos legistas. Para tanto, propôs-se como reflexão em torno desse tema central os seguintes questionamentos: qual a proximidade de um “Trabalhador da morte” com a morte?; o que realmente atormenta o estado psicológico do trabalhador envolvido com a morte?; o que gera o dilema e instala o trauma? Concluiu-se que é preciso trazer esse servidor ao enfrentamento da realidade em que vive, sem fugas ou máscaras, demonstrando a sua relevante contribuição à sociedade.

The present paper had is based on results of a long observation period and behavioral perception of several servants of theLegal Medical Institute of Sao Paulo (IML), during the period of professional contact with these servants and the event of death,a period of experience of nearly 35 years for each author, which were in daily contact with the setting of the most variedunities of IMLs in the condition of forensic scientists. For doing this, we propose as a reflection around this central subject thequestions: how near is a “Death Worker” with death?; what really does torment the psychological state of the worker dealing with death?; what produces the dilemma and creates trauma? We concluded that it is necessary to make this servant to facethe reality in which they live, without getaways or masks, demonstrating their relevant contribution to society.

Cytokeratin expression in corneal dystrophies.

PURPOSE: To identify an immunohistochemical pattern of epithelial markers in granular, lattice and Avellino corneal dystrophies. METHODS: Twenty-two corneal buttons, diagnosed as lattice (17), Avellino (4) and granular (1) underwent immunohistochemical studies of cytokeratins (CKs) on paraffin-embedded sections (group I). Monoclonal antibodies for pan-CK (AE1/AE3) and CKs 3/12, 5/6, 8, 18 and 19 were used. Twenty-two normal corneas were used as the control (group II). RESULTS: Six lattice and 2 Avellino cases of group I stained positively with anti-CK 3/12 in corneal epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits. One of these cases of lattice was positive for anti-pan-CK (AE1/AE3) also in the epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits with a similar pattern. None of the controls (group II) revealed any staining in corneal stroma. All disease and control cases (groups I and II) revealed positive staining in corneal epithelium. CONCLUSION: AE1/AE3 and CK 3/12 anti-CK positive markers in the stromal deposits of lattice and Avellino dystrophies may suggest an epithelial genesis of the disease.

Multiple basal cell carcinomas in the pubic area in a patient with skin type IV: case report.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of malignant cutaneous neoplasm in humans, being more frequently located in exposed areas and in fair-skinned individuals. It is reported the case of a 62-yearold female patient, brown-skinned ,with multiple lesions with edges slightly raised, reddish-brown in the pubic region, whose clinical diagnosis was pigmented basal cell carcinoma, confirmed by histopathology. Immunohistochemistry of the lesions was negative for the detection of papilloma virus.

Múltiplos carcinomas basocelulares na região pubiana em uma paciente fototipo IV: relato de caso / Multiple basal cell carcinomas in the pubic area in a patient with skin type IV: case report

O carcinoma basocelular é a neoplasia maligna cutânea mais comum em humanos, localizando-se, frequentemente, em áreas expostas e em indivíduos de pele clara. Relata-se o caso de uma paciente de 62 anos, faiodérmica, com múltiplas lesões de bordas discretamente elevadas, eritemato-acastanhadas na região pubiana, cujo diagnóstico clínico foi carcinoma basocelular pigmentado, confirmado através do estudo histopatológico. A imunoistoquímica das lesões foi negativa para a pesquisa de papiloma vírus.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of malignant cutaneous neoplasm in humans, being more frequently located in exposed areas and in fair-skinned individuals. It is reported the case of a 62-yearold female patient, brown-skinned ,with multiple lesions with edges slightly raised, reddish-brown in the pubic region, whose clinical diagnosis was pigmented basal cell carcinoma, confirmed by histopathology. Immunohistochemistry of the lesions was negative for the detection of papilloma virus.

Cytokeratin expression in corneal dystrophies / Expressão de citoqueratinas em distrofias corneanas

PURPOSE: To identify an immunohistochemical pattern of epithelial markers in granular, lattice and Avellino corneal dystrophies. METHODS: Twenty-two corneal buttons, diagnosed as lattice (17), Avellino (4) and granular (1) underwent immunohistochemical studies of cytokeratins (CKs) on pa- raffin-embedded sections (group I). Monoclonal antibodies for pan-CK (AE1/AE3) and CKs 3/12, 5/6, 8, 18 and 19 were used. Twenty-two normal corneas were used as the control (group II). RESULTS: Six lattice and 2 Avellino cases of group I stained positively with anti-CK 3/12 in corneal epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits. One of these cases of lattice was positive for anti-pan-CK (AE1/AE3) also in the epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits with a similar pattern. None of the controls (group II) revealed any staining in corneal stroma. All disease and control cases (groups I and II) revealed positive staining in corneal epithelium. CONCLUSION: AE1/AE3 and CK 3/12 anti-CK positive markers in the stromal deposits of lattice and Avellino dystrophies may suggest an epithelial genesis of the disease.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a expressão de citoqueratinas (CKs) em córneas com distrofias corneanas tipo granular, lattice e Avellino. MÉTODOS: Vinte e dois botões corneanos com diagnóstico anatomopatológico de distrofia estromal tipo lattice (17), Avellino (4) e granular (1) foram submetidos à avaliação imunohistoquímica nos tecidos inclusos em parafina (grupo I). Anticorpos monoclonais para pan-CK (AE1/AE3) e CKs de números 3/12, 5/6, 8, 18 e 19 foram utilizados. Vinte e dois botões corneanos normais foram usados como controle (grupo II). RESULTADOS: Oito casos do grupo I (seis lattice e dois Avellino) apresentaram reações imuno-histoquímicas positivas com anti-CK 3/12, tanto no epitélio como nos depósitos estromais e um destes casos (lattice) também se mostrou positivo para anti-pan-CK (AE1/AE3) com o mesmo padrão de reação. Nenhum caso do grupo II mostrou reação imuno-histoquímica positiva no estroma corneano. Na avaliação imuno-histoquímica dos grupos I e II, o epitélio apresentou uma reação positiva com o anticorpo anti-pan-CK (AE1/AE3) e com o anti-CK 3/12. CONCLUSÃO: O fato da pan-CK e CK 3/12 apresentarem uma reação positiva nos depósitos das distrofias tipo lattice e Avellino sugere uma origem epitelial desses depósitos corneanos.

[Evaluation years in leprosy patients treated with single dose alternative scheme ROM (rifampin, ofloxacin, minocycline), after seven to nine]. / Avaliação de hansenianos tratados com esquema alternativo dose única ROM (rifampicina, ofloxacina e minociclina), após sete a nove anos.

INTRODUCTION: In 1997, after obtaining a combined multi-state double-blind randomly controlled clinical trial study from nine Indian centers involved in the treatment of Hansen's Disease, the Ministry of Health adapted the single dose ROM Therapy approach in those cases involving the treatment of a single skin lesion, paucibacillary leprosy without evidence of peripheral nerve trunk involvement and indication of negative baciloscope, in the Referral Centers in Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the single dose ROM Therapy approach in those patients who were treated from the period of 1997 to 1999 in the Ambulatory Dermatologic Unit in the Hospital in Vitória, ES. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with tuberculoid and indeterminate leprosy were selected and treated with the single dose ROM Therapy approach. These patients were contacted from March 2006 up and until October 2006 for further clinical reevaluation. RESULTS: From the studies conducted, the following results were found to exist: 29 patients (85,2%; 95%CI: 70-100,4) were cured, 5 patients (14,7%; 95%CI: 7,4-22,0) relapsed, and 20 patients didn't return; however, there are no additional records of any notification of other treatment(s) in the State Department of Health's informational data banks. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a rate of cure of 90.8% and a rate of relapse of 9.2% after a period of seven to nine years using the single dose ROM Therapy approach. Additionally, this alternative treatment further demonstrated a better effectiveness for a single skin lesion smaller than four centimeters and with an appearance in less than five years.

Avaliação de hansenianos tratados com esquema alternativo dose única ROM (rifampicina, ofloxacina e minociclina), após sete a nove anos / Evaluation years in leprosy patients treated with single dose alternative scheme ROM (rifampin, ofloxacin, minocycline), after seven to nine

INTRODUÇÃO: Em 1997, após a realização de estudo multicêntrico, duplo cego e randomizado, em nove centros de tratamento de hanseníase na Índia, o Ministério da Saúde adotou o esquema alternativo dose única ROM para casos de lesão única, paucibacilar, sem nervo periférico afetado, índice baciloscópico negativo, em Centros de Referência da doença no Brasil. O estudo se propôs a avaliar a efetividade do esquema ROM em pacientes tratados no período de 1997 a 1999 no Serviço de Dermatologia da Santa Casa de Vitória. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados e tratados com o esquema ROM, 54 pacientes das formas indeterminada e tuberculóide. Estes pacientes foram convocados de março a outubro de 2006 para reavaliação clínica. RESULTADOS: Vinte e nove pacientes avaliados (85,2 por cento; IC95 por cento: 70-100,4) estavam curados, cinco (14,7 por cento; IC95 por cento: 7,4-22,0) recidivaram e 20 pacientes não retornaram; porém, não havia outra notificação de reingresso ao tratamento no banco de dados da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo evidenciou taxa de cura de 90,8 por cento e taxa bruta de recidiva de 9,2 por cento, após período de sete a nove anos da dose ROM. O tratamento alternativo ROM demonstrou melhor efetividade para lesão única menor que quatro centímetros e aparecimento há menos de cinco anos.

INTRODUCTION: In 1997, after obtaining a combined multi-state double-blind randomly controlled clinical trial study from nine Indian centers involved in the treatment of Hansen's Disease, the Ministry of Health adapted the single dose ROM Therapy approach in those cases involving the treatment of a single skin lesion, paucibacillary leprosy without evidence of peripheral nerve trunk involvement and indication of negative baciloscope, in the Referral Centers in Brazil. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the single dose ROM Therapy approach in those patients who were treated from the period of 1997 to 1999 in the Ambulatory Dermatologic Unit in the Hospital in Vitória, ES. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with tuberculoid and indeterminate leprosy were selected and treated with the single dose ROM Therapy approach. These patients were contacted from March 2006 up and until October 2006 for further clinical reevaluation. RESULTS: From the studies conducted, the following results were found to exist: 29 patients (85,2 percent; 95 percentCI: 70-100,4) were cured, 5 patients (14,7 percent; 95 percentCI: 7,4-22,0) relapsed, and 20 patients didn't return; however, there are no additional records of any notification of other treatment(s) in the State Department of Health's informational data banks. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a rate of cure of 90.8 percent and a rate of relapse of 9.2 percent after a period of seven to nine years using the single dose ROM Therapy approach. Additionally, this alternative treatment further demonstrated a better effectiveness for a single skin lesion smaller than four centimeters and with an appearance in less than five years.

Retinocoroidite toxoplásmica reativada provavelmente por cirurgia refrativa: laser in situ keratomileusis - LASIK / Probable reactivation of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis by refractive surgery: laser in situ keratomileusis - LASIK

O presente trabalho objetiva demonstrar provável relaço entre recorrência de toxoplasmose ocular e cirurgia refrativa (LASIK). Trata-se de relato de caso de um paciente de 33 anos de idade com recorrência de retinocoroidite toxoplásmica após cirurgia de LASIK. O exame fundoscópico do olho esquerdo revelou foco de retinocoroidite em atividade, satélite a cicatriz antiga de toxoplasmose ocular, 17 dias após cirurgia de LASIK. Os autores apresentam subsídios para o estabelecimento de relação causal entre LASIK e a reativação de retinocoroidite toxoplasmática.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the probable relationship between the recurrence of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis and refractive surgery (LASIK). The case consists in a toxoplasmic retinochoroditis recurrence observed in a 33-year-old patient after a LASIK surgery. Fundoscopy revealed a retinochoroiditis focus in activity in the left eye seventeen days after the surgery, adjacent to an old scar of ocular toxoplasmosis. The authors present findings that reinforce possible causal links between LASIK and the recurrence of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

[Cutaneous botryomycosis: case report]. / Botriomicose cutânea: relato de caso.

Botryomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous, suppurative bacterial infection involving the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The skin lesion is characterized by multiple fistulae draining purulent secretion with white-yellowish grains PAS positive. The main etiologic agent is Staphylococcus aureus and other less frequent pathogens are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, isolated or associated. The authors report a case of this disease with exuberant lesions on the right leg and increased limb volume, fibrous consistency and multiple fistula orifices draining white-yellowish grains. Resolution was achieved with sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy to reestablish cell culture in an animal model of uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE: To access the reliability of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in harvesting a sufficient amount of viable melanoma cells to establish a cell culture and maintain a melanoma cell line from an animal model of uveal melanoma. METHODS: For this study, fifteen male New Zealand albino rabbits had their right eye surgically inoculated with uveal melanoma cell line 92.1. The animals were immunosupressed with cyclosporine A using a dose schedule previously published. The animals were followed for 12 weeks. Intraocular tumor growth was monitored weekly by indirect ophthalmoscopy. After the fourth week, one animal was sacrificed per week preceded by fine-needle aspiration biopsy using a sharp 25-gauge, 1-inch long needle. Two separate aspirates were made from different areas of the tumor. Each aspirate was flushed to a separate cell culture media and sent for cell culture. The cells were frozen after two weeks when there were at least 1 million cells, which is enough to maintain a cell line. Cells were defrosted for HMB-45 immuno-stains to confirm the melanoma origin. RESULTS: Cell growth was observed from the samples harvested from 11 out of the 15 animals inoculated with uveal melanoma. All cell cultures, after defrost, immunoassayed positive for HMB-45. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration biopsy seems to be a reliable method to harvest cells from solid intraocular melanomas in an animal model, to establish cell culture and to maintain a melanoma cell line.