Photocoagulation of Choroidal Melanoma

Abstract

Histopathologic findings in an eye removed three hours after photocoagulation are compared with the findings in an eye removed 5 months after the beginning of a series of photocoagulation treatments. Both eyes had choroidal malignant melanomas. The acute changes included severe destruction of the involved retina and focal acute necrosis of the inner layers of the underlying choroidal tumor. The chronic changes consisted of extensive destruction of tumor with persistence of islands of viable tumor as well as the late sequelae of retinal destruction. In both eyes the necrotic areas of tumor were remarkably free of surrounding reactive inflammation.