Intraocular tumors. The value of spectral and color Doppler sonography.

We evaluated the efficacy of spectral and color Doppler sonography as a screening procedure for intraocular tumors. Thirty patients who had intraocular tumors were included in the study. Abnormal Doppler shifts were demonstrated 19 of 20 patients with choroidal malignant melanomas, especially at the base of the tumors. The average maximum systolic blood flow velocity in the vessels of these tumors was 17 +/- 6.8 cm/sec (14 to 28 cm/sec). In one of the choroidal metastasis, blood vessels were seen around the lesion with a 14-cm/sec maximum peak systolic velocity. Intratumoral vascularity could not be demonstrated in the other tumors. Spectral and color Doppler imaging is a relatively new and promising modality in the management of intraocular tumors and may help to provide a more precise preoperative histological diagnosis noninvasively; however, long-term follow-up is needed.