Laser ablation of an enlarging small melanocytic choroidal tumor: 16-year follow-up and rationale for treatment.
Results of laser photocoagulation of a growing pigmented choroidal lesion for which the differential diagnosis included enlarging nevus and small melanoma and the rationale for such treatment are described. A 37-year-old woman underwent ablative laser photocoagulation for a small juxtapapillary pigmented choroidal lesion that was documented photographically to enlarge in diameter from 300 to 1,750 microns after 8 years. Sixteen years after laser photocoagulation, the visual acuity remains 20/20 with no further growth or recurrence of the lesion. Local treatment may be justified for a small pigmented choroidal lesion that is documented to grow.
Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Jerry A
JA
Shields
Carol L
CL
Shields
Randall
R
Peairs
Peter
P
Racciato
D000328:Adult; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity