BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of ring melanoma is clinically difficult since the mass can remain hidden with standard slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) as a diagnostic tool for ring melanoma of the ciliary body. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 6 eyes of 6 patients at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ont., with a diagnosis of ring melanoma of the ciliary body. The tumor extension was measured clinically, gonioscopically, ultrasonographically (by UBM), and pathologically. RESULTS: Since 2000, 6 cases of ring melanoma have been diagnosed at Princess Margaret Hospital: 2 women and 4 men, median age 57 years. Five patients presented as uncontrolled hyperchromic glaucoma (83%). Ciliary body involvement on slit-lamp examination ranged from 60 to 180 degrees. Ciliary body involvement as assessed by UBM ranged from 180 to 300 degrees. Tumor extension according to pathological examination ranged from 210 to 360 degrees. With these measures, the ring melanoma clinical criteria were not filled by 5 patients. INTERPRETATION: UBM is an important tool in determining the extent of ciliary body involvement and classifying these lesions.
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of ring melanoma is clinically difficult since the mass can remain hidden with standard slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) as a diagnostic tool for ring melanoma of the ciliary body. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 6 eyes of 6 patients at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ont., with a diagnosis of ring melanoma of the ciliary body. The tumor extension was measured clinically, gonioscopically, ultrasonographically (by UBM), and pathologically. RESULTS: Since 2000, 6 cases of ring melanoma have been diagnosed at Princess Margaret Hospital: 2 women and 4 men, median age 57 years. Five patients presented as uncontrolled hyperchromic glaucoma (83%). Ciliary body involvement on slit-lamp examination ranged from 60 to 180 degrees. Ciliary body involvement as assessed by UBM ranged from 180 to 300 degrees. Tumor extension according to pathological examination ranged from 210 to 360 degrees. With these measures, the ring melanoma clinical criteria were not filled by 5 patients. INTERPRETATION: UBM is an important tool in determining the extent of ciliary body involvement and classifying these lesions.