Kimberly Chin1, Paul T Finger. 1. The New York Eye Cancer Center, 115 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. kchin@eyecancer.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe autofluorescence characteristics of 30 suspicious choroidal nevi. METHODS: Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were reviewed retrospectively on 30 consecutive cases of suspicious choroidal nevi. Autofluorescence imaging was achieved using a fundus camera-based system with a barrier filter of 695 nm and excitation of 580 nm. All nevi exhibited one or more of the following characteristics: tumor thickness, basal dimension greater than 5 mm, subretinal fluid, posterior location, ophthalmic symptoms, or lipofuscin (orange pigment). RESULTS: Suspicious choroidal nevi were found to have specific FAF features. Orange pigment was noted in 67% of the nevi and appeared as very bright hyperfluorescent areas. Overlying retinal pigment epithelium hypertrophy and atrophy were noted in 50% and appeared darkly hypofluorescent. Subretinal fluid (17%) and drusen (17%) both appeared mildly hyperfluorescent. CONCLUSIONS: Orange pigment was the most hyperfluorescent FAF finding. Because the presence of orange pigment is a known risk factor for malignant transformation, the use of camera-based FAF imaging may improve our ability to identify those choroidal nevi that will transform into malignant melanoma. More long-term follow-up studies will be required to determine the exact prognostic value of our findings.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe autofluorescence characteristics of 30 suspicious choroidal nevi. METHODS: Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were reviewed retrospectively on 30 consecutive cases of suspicious choroidal nevi. Autofluorescence imaging was achieved using a fundus camera-based system with a barrier filter of 695 nm and excitation of 580 nm. All nevi exhibited one or more of the following characteristics: tumor thickness, basal dimension greater than 5 mm, subretinal fluid, posterior location, ophthalmic symptoms, or lipofuscin (orange pigment). RESULTS: Suspicious choroidal nevi were found to have specific FAF features. Orange pigment was noted in 67% of the nevi and appeared as very bright hyperfluorescent areas. Overlying retinal pigment epithelium hypertrophy and atrophy were noted in 50% and appeared darkly hypofluorescent. Subretinal fluid (17%) and drusen (17%) both appeared mildly hyperfluorescent. CONCLUSIONS: Orange pigment was the most hyperfluorescent FAF finding. Because the presence of orange pigment is a known risk factor for malignant transformation, the use of camera-based FAF imaging may improve our ability to identify those choroidal nevi that will transform into malignant melanoma. More long-term follow-up studies will be required to determine the exact prognostic value of our findings.
Authors: Almut Bindewald-Wittich; Frank G Holz; Thomas Ach; Miltiadis Fiorentzis; Nikolaos E Bechrakis; Gregor D Willerding Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2022-04-02 Impact factor: 6.639