[Ultrasound biomicroscopy of conjunctival lesions].
BACKGROUND
The value of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis of conjunctival lesions is not well established.


METHODS
For the examination of conjunctival lesions, we used an ultrasound biomicroscope (Humphrey, Zeiss, Oberkochen) with a high frequency transducer (30 MHz). Between January 2000 and August 2001, 28 patients (16 female, 12-male) with conjunctival lesions, aged 9 to 81 years, were available for this study.


RESULTS
Histological examination of the excised tissue displayed the presence of a compound naevus (8/28), cysts (6/28), inflammatory processes (3/28), granulomatous processes (2/28), lymphomas (2/28), foreign bodies (2/28), a pterygium (2/28), a malignant melanoma (1/28), a primary acquired melanosis (1/28), and a conjunctival amyloidosis (1/28). Using ultrasound biomicroscopy we were able to demonstrate a cystic tumour in the six patients (21 %) with a cyst of the conjunctiva. In patients suffering from solid tumours of the conjunctiva the definite diagnosis could not be made with ultrasound biomicroscopy alone. The eight patients with compound naevus displayed a somewhat heterogeneous sonographic structure within the tumour. In the patient with a foreign body we were able to demonstrate posterior shadowing of the underlying tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
For evaluation of conjunctival lesions caused by a cyst or a solid tumour, ultrasound biomicroscopy may be an additional diagnostic tool, e. g. for assessing the margins of the tumour. However, up to now it is not possible to differentiate between different lesions solely by means of ultrasonography.
Buchwald
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Universitäts-Augenklinik Ulm. Uni.Augenklinik@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Müller
Andreas
A
Spraul
Christoph W
CW
Lang
Gerhard K
GK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019721:Ophthalmoscopes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*