Objective: To observe the clinical results of transvitreal choroidal biopsies in the diagnosis of choroidal tumors.
Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Slitlamp, indirect ophthalmoscopy, B scan, CDI, MRI, OCT, FFA and ICGA were performed in all 16 cases. The choroidal biopsy was obtained via an internal approach with a three-port pars plana vitrectomy. Vitreous samples were obtained in patients with vitreous hemorrhage. In choroidal tumor located at or in front of the equator, local excision of tumor were performed. The vitreous specimens, choroidal biopsies and excised tumor specimens were analyzed by the histopathologic studies. Statistical analysis was performed using a commercially available statistical software package (SPSS for Windows, version 13.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL).
Results: In 4 cases of vitreous hemorrhage, histopathologic studies showed hemorrhage in 2 cases and choroidal melanoma cells in another two cases. In 16 choroidal biopsies, 2 cases had a negative results, 11 cases showed choroidal melanoma, 1 case was melanocytoma and 2 cases were hemorrhage only. The diagnostic rate was 87.5%. In 12 cases that underwent local excision, 9 cases were choroidal melanoma, 1 case was melanocytoma and 2 cases were Schwannoma. High concordance was present between choroidal biopsy and local excision (Kappa = 1, P = 0.02).
Conclusions: The results obtained from transvitreal choroidal biopsies were consistent with that from local excision. This procedure can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of choroidal tumors.