title: Accuracy of presumed uveal melanoma diagnosis before alternative therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy rate of non-invasive tests in patients with presumed uveal melanomas scheduled to be treated with either irradiation or cyclochoroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive patients who had non-invasive tests followed by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) as prior alternative treatment were analysed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 86 cases the diagnosis of uveal melanoma was confirmed on FNAB. In five cases false negative results were obtained. In nine patients a diagnosis other than a uveal melanoma was made on the basis of cytopathology. No significant morbidity and no evidence of tumour spread occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In presumed uveal melanomas eligible for treatment with alternative therapies, the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests is not as good as with larger tumours that require enucleation. Fine needle aspiration biopsy data resulted in correct management of 9% of cases that were thought to have uveal melanomas on non-invasive tests, but had other lesions on cytopathological evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0730, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Char
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology