No abstract

Objective: To evaluate indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in the diagnosis of small choroidal tumours. Methods: We studied 40 patients with small choroidal tumours, 22 males and 18 females. The tumour thickness on ultrasonography ranged from 2.2 to 4.3 mm. Results: Nineteen pigmented tumours showed early and late diffuse hypofluorescence, consistent with naevi. Eight non-pigmented tumours showed normal choroidal vessels in calibre, configuration, and branching, typical of non-pigmented naevi. The early frame of ICG angiography showed in 13 cases pathological, intrinsic vascularization, suggestive of melanomas. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that ICG angiography may be helpful in differentiating choroidal naevi from small melanomas.

Expression of p16 protein, intragenic mutations of CDKN2A and hypermethylation of CDKN2A promoter region in 41 sporadic primary uveal melanomas were studied. There were 2 cases of spindle cell B histological type, 11 of A + B and 28 of mixed type. All melanomas infiltrated sclera but in 28 cases infiltration was superficial while in 13 profound. In 7 cases the tumor infiltrated the optic nerve. Expression of p16 was studied by immunohistochemistry and recorded by assessment of the proportion of positive tumor cells and staining intensity. Results were expressed as staining index (IRS). Intragenic mutations were studied by PCR-SSCP followed by sequencing, while hypermethylation of the promoter region by CpG methylation assay. In 15% of cases less than 10% of melanoma cells were p16 positive, in 70% of cases less than 50% of cells, while in 7% more than 80% of cells stained for p16 (mean IRS for all cases was 4.87 ± 2.43). In B type the IRS was 8.5 ± 0.7, in A + B type 6.0 ± 2.1 and in the mixed type 4.17 ± 2.43 (differences statistically significant). In melanomas profoundly infiltrating sclera mean IRS was 4.16, while in those infiltrating optic nerve 3.71 (statistically not significant). Analysis of the intragenic mutations revealed in two patients a GAC/GAT substitution in codon 84 -a silent mutation. No hypermethylation of the CpG island of the p16 promoter region was found. In conclusion, we found that the degree of p16 expression is related to the histological type of tumor but not to the histological indicators of tumor invasiveness and that intragenic mutations and promoter hypermethylation are not major mechanisms of p16 inactivation in sporadic uveal melanoma.

No abstract

The inorganic constituents of the subretinal fluid (SRF) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Four main elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) were determined in 41 samples; Cu was determined in 36 samples and Zn in 24 samples. The results are presented graphically, taking into account the concentrations of each element in the SRF and the number of cases. In 9 cases, the concentrations of the inorganic elements were also determined in blood serum; it was established that the SRF is richer in Mg than blood serum and poorer in the other elements. No correlation was found between the concentration of the inorganic elements in the SRF and the clinical picture of retinal detachment.