C Sutter1, A Jean-Charles, H Merle. 1. Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpital Pierre-Zobda-Quitman, CHU de Fort-de-France, BP 632, 97261 Fort-de-France cedex, Martinique, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Melanocytoma of the optic disk is a rare, benign, slow-growing tumor. We analyzed the clinical and paraclinical features of melanocytomas followed at the Fort-de-France University Hospital to expose and compare characteristics from new clinical imaging. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a prospective study of 10 patients with a melanocytoma of the optic disk. The principal features studied were the ophthalmoscopic findings, the visual field defects, fluorescein angiography features, and the comparison between standard time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics and the latest spectral-domain OCT findings. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 49.2 years. All the patients were from the French West Indies. The lesion was discovered incidentally in 90% of the cases. Visual acuity was normal in 70% of the cases. Visual field defects were present at the first visit in 80% of the cases. Tumor growth was monitored in 50% of the cases during a mean follow up of 4.8 years. The in-depth extension into chorioretina and laterally into the retina were better visualized in spectral-domain OCT than in time-domain OCT as hyperreflective granular dots. CONCLUSION: Optic disk melanocytoma appears to be a singular benign tumor that is seen more frequently in dark-skinned patients. Most melanocytomas do not cause significant visual impairment but can show substantial growth in size for many years of follow-up. A malignant transformation is always to fear in case of atypical development. Spectral domain OCT seems to be an important tool in the assessment of extension and follow-up. Copyright Â
INTRODUCTION:Melanocytoma of the optic disk is a rare, benign, slow-growing tumor. We analyzed the clinical and paraclinical features of melanocytomas followed at the Fort-de-France University Hospital to expose and compare characteristics from new clinical imaging. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a prospective study of 10 patients with a melanocytoma of the optic disk. The principal features studied were the ophthalmoscopic findings, the visual field defects, fluorescein angiography features, and the comparison between standard time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics and the latest spectral-domain OCT findings. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 49.2 years. All the patients were from the French West Indies. The lesion was discovered incidentally in 90% of the cases. Visual acuity was normal in 70% of the cases. Visual field defects were present at the first visit in 80% of the cases. Tumor growth was monitored in 50% of the cases during a mean follow up of 4.8 years. The in-depth extension into chorioretina and laterally into the retina were better visualized in spectral-domain OCT than in time-domain OCT as hyperreflective granular dots. CONCLUSION: Optic disk melanocytoma appears to be a singular benign tumor that is seen more frequently in dark-skinned patients. Most melanocytomas do not cause significant visual impairment but can show substantial growth in size for many years of follow-up. A malignant transformation is always to fear in case of atypical development. Spectral domain OCT seems to be an important tool in the assessment of extension and follow-up. Copyright Â