title: Anterior segment tumor biopsy using an aspiration cutter technique: clinical experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the results and complications of an aspiration cutter-assisted anterior segment tumor biopsy performed under viscoelastic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five patients with anterior segment tumors underwent aspiration cutter-assisted biopsy at a single center. Fifty-six biopsies were performed, because 1 eye underwent biopsy twice. Indications for biopsy included: suspected anterior segment malignancy, patient's desire for pathologic confirmation before treatment, atypical tumor, and genetic tumor analysis. The main evaluated outcomes were the perioperative visual acuity, the biopsy technique, and related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial sample comprised 55 consecutively biopsied patients, from which a minimum 1-month follow-up existed for 52 biopsy samples. The median total follow-up was 30.4 months (range, 1 to 190 months). The mean initial visual acuity was 20/50 before and 20/50 1 month after biopsy. No patient lost vision. Most cases were suspected iris melanoma (n = 39/56; 69.6%), followed by suspicious iris nevi (n = 4/56; 7.1%) and melanocytoma (n = 4/56; 7.1%). Seven (n = 7/52; 13.4%) wounds required a single 10-0 nylon suture to achieve negative Seidel test results at the corneal entry site. Postoperative surgical findings included transiently increased intraocular pressure (n = 6/52; 11.5%), 1 hyphema, 1 flare, and 1 persistent pupillary defect. All but the pupillary defect resolved within 4 weeks of the biopsy procedure. There were no secondary infections or cataracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that small-incision, aspiration cutter-assisted anterior segment biopsy seems to be a safe and effective procedure. No short- or long-term complications that would prevent its use were noted.
authors.affiliation: The New York Eye Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petousis
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.forename: Tatyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D032801:Iridectomy / Q000379:methods; D015811:Iris Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology