The Finger iridectomy technique: small incision biopsy of anterior segment tumours
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《英国眼科学杂志》
1 The New York Eye Cancer Center, New York, USA
2 The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, USA
3 New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
Correspondence to:
Paul T Finger
MD, FACS, The New York Eye Cancer Center,115 East 61st Street, New York City, NY 10021, USA; pfinger@eyecancer.com
Accepted for publication 1 January 2005
ABSTRACT
Aims: To develop a minimally invasive, maximally effective method to biopsy anterior segment tumours.
Methods: A 25 gauge aspiration cutter (vitrector) was used to biopsy anterior segment tumours. The probe was introduced under sodium hyaluronate 1% and through a 1 mm incision. Aspiration (600 mm Hg) cutting (300 cpm) was performed to obtain specimens for cytology and histopathology.
Results: Diagnostic material was obtained in nine of 10 (90%) cases. Diagnoses included iris naevus, iris stroma, malignant melanoma, melanocytoma, epithelial inclusion cyst, and sarcoid granuloma. All corneal wounds were self sealing. One patient developed a transient postoperative increase in intraocular pressure. Within the follow up of this study, no patients suffered intraocular haemorrhage, infection, cataract or vision loss.
Conclusion: The Finger iridectomy technique was a minimally invasive and very effective biopsy technique. Aspiration cutting yielded relatively large pieces of tissue (and cells) used for cytopathological and histopathological evaluation. Small incision surgery allowed for rapid rehabilitation and no significant complications.
Abbreviations: cpm, cuts per minute; FIT, Finger iridectomy technique; FNAB, fine needle aspiration biopsy; MVR, microvitreoretinal; PCIOL, posterior chamber intraocular lens
Keywords: iris; biopsy; cytology; fine needle aspiration biopsy; melanoma; sarcoid; ciliary body; anterior segment
Iris, iridociliary, and other anterior segment tumours can be easily accessible for biopsy with subsequent cytological and histopathological evaluation.1–6 Typically, specimens have been obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or surgical iridectomy through a corneal or limbal incision.7,8 Unfortunately, FNAB (utilising a 23–27 gauge sharp needle) often yields few cells and carries the risk of lacerating the lens, iris blood vessels, and the ciliary body with the sharp needle tip and edges. In contrast, surgical iridectomy is a much larger procedure that requires a corneal wound and sutures, with subsequent visual rehabilitation.6,9
Here we describe a new technique for minimally invasive iris biopsy (with less surgical trauma). Under sodium hyaluronate 1% stabilisation, this technique utilises a 25 gauge aspiration cutter to sample iris and iridociliary tumours through a 1 mm (self sealing) clear corneal incision.
METHODS
Privacy and informed consent
Over the past 5 years, 244 anterior segment tumours were managed by one of our authors (PTF) within the framework of the New York Eye Cancer Center. From this group of patients, the last 10 that required biopsy are included in this interventional case report (table 1).
Table 1 Patient and tumour characteristics
Each was noted to have an anterior segment tumour with either documented growth or a history of growth from the referring physician. Our indications for biopsy are tumour growth (n = 10), diagnosis of atypical tumours (n = 0), or when management requires or when the patient requests a histopathological diagnosis (n = 10). Growth was defined as enlargement of tumour margins as documented in conference with the referring physician (n = 3), or by serial slit lamp photography and high frequency ultrasound evaluation over time (n = 7).1,4,6,7,10 Each patient signed a treatment consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) form. Each was offered FNAB or surgical iridectomy as an alternative biopsy technique. When applicable, preoperative medical oncology evaluations proved negative for metastatic cancer.
Surgical technique
Preparation
Each patient was medically cleared for local anaesthesia with sedation. In the operating room retrobulbar and facial nerve anaesthetic blocks were administered. The patient’s face and eye were prepared with an iodine based topical antibiotic. An eyelid speculum was introduced and the operating microscope adjusted to maximally visualise the anterior segment tumour.
The Finger iridectomy technique (FIT)
A 0.3 forcep was used to stabilise the eye at the limbus. A microvitreoretinal (MVR) blade was used to create a stab incision through clear juxtalimbal cornea, into the anterior chamber. A clear corneal incision guaranteed that any liberated cancer cells would exit the patient’s body (addressing concerns about tumour seeding).11 In most cases, incisions were made in positions on the same side as the tumour (so as to avoid the need to cross the pupil). Acetylcholine chloride 10 mg/ml (Miochol-E, CibaVision Novartis, Basle, Switzerland) was introduced into the anterior chamber to stabilise the iris and induce miosis. Then sodium hyaluronate 1% (Healon, Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) was used to fill the anterior chamber. Sodium hyaluronate 1% served to maintain the anterior chamber depth (during biopsy), and to position the iris for biopsy (typically away from the natural lens). We have found that Healon was better than no infusion or saline infusion for safely stabilising the anterior chamber.
A 25 gauge aspiration biopsy cannula (vitrectomy probe) was inserted into the anterior chamber (fig 1). The aspiration port was rotated as to be (at least partially) occluded by the tumour. Aspiration cutting (Accurus, Alcon, Ft Worth, TX, USA) was typically started on suction of 300 mm Hg and a cutting rate of 600 cuts per minute (cpm). These settings were then adjusted as to maximise the efficiency of the process under direct visualisation (while trying to keep the cut rate as low as possible).
Figure 1 In case 1, the 25 gauge aspiration cutter placed through the clear corneal wound as to approximate a pigmented iridociliary tumour.
Though most cases merely thinned the tumour, more dramatic appearing partial thickness iridectomies were obtained by FIT (fig 2). Each time the cutter was removed from the eye, the cutter portal was placed in solution and the aspirate flushed from the effluent tube into an empty 3 ml syringe (with 0.5 ml of saline). Specimens were immediately sent to the pathology department for cytological evaluation. The biopsy procedure was repeated until the pathologist reported that the specimen was adequate for diagnosis. Two to three biopsies were typically performed in each case. Once an adequate specimen was obtained, the residual sodium hyaluronate 1% was removed from the eye by manual aspiration irrigation with balanced salt solution.
Figure 2 In case 6, a partial thickness, lamellar iridectomy biopsy was created using the Finger iridectomy technique (FIT).
Closure
The corneal wound was found to be self sealing in all cases. At the end of surgery, an antibiotic steroid solution was injected beneath the conjunctiva, one drop of timolol maleate 0.5% and antibiotic steroid ointment was placed on the eye, then it was patched and shielded. Patients were discharged (on the same day) on topical steroid, antibiotic, and agents to maintain intraocular pressure control.
Pathology
Cytospin technique
A cytospin technique was used to optimise the biopsy yield. Cytospin slides were cleaned with alcohol and assembled with a slide filter card and sample delivery chamber, secured by a metal clip. Approximately 0.5 ml of fluid sample (3–5 drops) were added to the chamber together with an equal amount of cytospin collection fluid (cytospin slides, filter cards, sample chambers, metal clips, and collection fluid (all from Thermo-Shandon, Pittsburgh, PA, USA). After spinning at 1800 rpm for 2 minutes, the slides were removed from the cytospin chamber, further fixed in cytology fixative (70% alcohol/formalin), and stained with the standard haematoxylin and eosin methods.
If pieces of biopsy specimen could be visualised in the 3 ml syringe or cytospin collection fluid, the paraffin embedded cell block technique offers the advantage of multiple sections that can be used for histochemical and immunohistochemical stains. In this series, we tended to be biased towards the use of cytology because of our previous experience with the low cellular yields that were typically provided by FNAB and our desire to preserve every possible cell for diagnosis.
RESULTS
Since August 2003, 10 tumours were biopsied (table 2). This minimally invasive iridectomy technique was found capable of yielding adequate specimens in 90% (9/10) of cases. Interestingly, the biopsy of what proved to be a sarcoid granuloma could not be accomplished by either FNAB or aspiration biopsy. In this case (No 4), a corneal section with open biopsy was required (table 2). One patient (No 1) developed a transient postoperative pressure spike related to the sodium hyaluronate 1%. In the other nine patients, no other acute postoperative or short term follow up complications could be related to this surgical technique.
Table 2 Results of biopsy
Cytological and histopathological analysis
Most of the iris tumours in this series were melanotic (table 2). In the cases diagnosed as iris naevus, cells were small, moderately pigmented, and ovoid with bland uniform nucleoli. In the cases diagnosed as malignant melanoma, a number of melanocytic cells were naevoid, intermediate size, and spindle shaped. But, other relatively large epithelial cells with wrinkled nuclear contour, conspicuous nucleoli, and intranuclear inclusions were diagnostic of malignant melanoma (fig 3B). Unique to this FIT biopsy technique, relatively large clumps (0.4 –0.5 mm) of tissue were available to evaluate cellular density and arrangement (fig 3).
Figure 3 (A) In case 1, a group of multiple, markedly pigmented iris melanocytes in which individual cells are barely discernible. The inset shows a single cell with a small, round, and normochromatic nucleus surrounded by abundant cytoplasm with numerous melanosomes consistent with melanocytoma. Pigment outside the cell boundaries is an artefact of centrifugation. (B) In case 6, large, densely cellular fragment containing several hundreds of mostly spindle cells with high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and focal melanin pigmentation. The inset reveals hyperchromatic, elongated nuclei with irregular contours, nuclear grooves, and moderate pleomorphism consistent with malignant melanoma.
Case 1
A 34 year old man presented with a history of an enlarging pigmented iridociliary tumour with extrascleral extension. Ophthalmic examination revealed increased pigmentation of 4 clock hours of the iris anterior to a 4.7 mm high ciliary body tumour (table 1). A biopsy utilising the FIT technique yielded copious benign and heavily pigmented cells and tissue diagnostic of melanocytoma (fig 3A).
A surgical iridectomy confirmed the diagnosis (table 2). In this case, the FIT specimen was characterised by the presence of large benign appearing melanocytes and markedly pigmented iris epithelial cells (fig 3A). Subsequent histopathology revealed densely packed large cells with abundant melanin laden cytoplasm. Nuclei were bland, ovoid, and uniform with only occasional small basophilic nucleoli. No eosinophilic nucleoli or nuclear folds were apparent.
Case 6
This representative case involved a 65 year old woman who initially presented in June 2002 with a relatively small (AJCC-T1a), variably pigmented iris tumour with intrinsic vascularity and ectropion uveae in her left eye. Over 2 years, serial observation had revealed expansion of the ectropion uveae and increased tapioca coloured tumour visible on the iris surface (table 1). This case was complicated by Salzman’s corneal dystrophy (of the nasal quadrants); therefore a superior approach was employed (fig 2). FIT resulted in a lamellar iridectomy biopsy that was found to be diagnostic for malignant iris melanoma (fig 3B).
Complications
Since the first biopsy was performed (April 2003), no patient has lost vision as a result of this minimally invasive iridectomy procedure (table 2). One patient developed transient (<48 hours) ocular hypertension. The patient with the large iridociliary melanocytoma developed controllable intraocular pressure elevation after both FIT and surgical iridectomy.
Postoperative evaluations have revealed no wound leaks, hyphaema, endophthalmitis, cataract, or secondary refractive errors. These findings have largely been attributed to our use of a small incision, lack of irrigation, and small series of patients. All surgeries were performed in the ambulatory setting. Patients were re-examined at least within 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.
DISCUSSION
Anterior segment tumours are typically accessible to biopsy through the cornea.8,12 Biopsy techniques have included standard iridectomy, iridocyclectomy, transcorneal tumour biopsy and fine needle aspiration (FNAB).6 There is agreement that a transcorneal approach reduces concerns about tumour seeding.11 Fine needle aspiration biopsy has been performed with sharp or blunt needles (D Bardenstein, personal communication). Most centres use sharp 22 gauge or 25 gauge needles introduced through clear cornea to poke or scrape the tumour. Cells are aspirated through the needle, extension tubing, and into a 5 ml or 10 ml syringe for subsequent cytological evaluation.
Vitreous cutters have also been employed to perform iridectomy.13,14 Ghanem et al used a cutter during phacoemulsification in patients with iridoschisis.13 Fastenberg and Bechrakis used a vitreous cutter based system for biopsy of indeterminate intraocular tumours (some of which were located in the iris).10,14
The FIT is different from these techniques; it is a minimally invasive approach utilising a 25 gauge aspiration cutter probe to perform localised iridectomy through a 1 mm incision (under sodium hyaluronate 1%). Unlike the Ghanem technique there is no scleral phacoemulsification incision, or irrigation. Similarly, Bechrakis employed a relatively large aspiration cutter (20 gauge) and a 21 gauge infusion cannula (to maintain anterior chamber depth). Their corneal incisions were reported to require closure with 10-0 nylon sutures. Clearly, irrigation can make harvesting iris tumour fragments more difficult.
In this series, a pathological diagnosis was achieved in nine of 10 (90%) cases. No patients lost vision and only one intraocular pressure spike could be attributed to the FIT. This study introduces the concept of using a 25 gauge aspiration cutter to perform minimally invasive biopsies of anterior segment tumours (for example, iris and iridociliary tumours) through a solitary 1 mm incision (under sodium hyaluronate 1%).
REFERENCES
Veasey CA Jr. Intraocular biopsy. Am J Ophthalmol 1951;34:432–4.
Char DH, Kroll SM, Stoloff A, et al. Cytomorphometry of uveal melanoma. Comparison of fine needle aspiration biopsy samples with histologic sections. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 1991;13:293–9.
Midena E, Segato T, Piermarocchi S, et al. Fine needle aspiration biopsy in ophthalmology. Surv Ophthalmol 1985;29:410–22.
Augsburger JJ, Shields JA. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of solid intraocular tumors: indications, instrumentation and techniques. Ophthalmic Surg 1984;15:34–40.
Augsburger JJ, Shields JA. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of solid intraocular tumors. Trans Pa Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1983;36:169–72.
Marigo FA, Finger PT. Anterior segment tumors: current concepts and innovations. Surv Ophthalmol 2003;48:569–93.
Gupta M, Puri P, Jacques R, et al. Fine needle aspiration biopsy: an investigative tool for iris metastasis. Eye 2001;15 (Pt 4) :541–2.
Grossniklaus HE. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the iris. Arch Ophthalmol 1992;110:969–76.
Finger PT, McCormick SA, Lombardo J, et al. Epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris. Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:777–80.
Fastenberg DM, Finger PT, Chess Q, et al. Vitrectomy retinotomy aspiration biopsy of choroidal tumors. Am J Ophthalmol 1990;110:361–5.
Karcioglu ZA, Gordon RA, Karcioglu GL. Tumor seeding in ocular fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ophthalmology 1985;92:1763–7.
Finger PT. Plaque radiation therapy for malignant melanoma of the iris and ciliary body. Am J Ophthalmol 2001;132:328–35.
Ghanem VC, Ghanem EA, Ghanem RC. Iridectomy of the anterior iris stroma using the vitreocutter during phacoemulsification in patients with iridoschisis. J Cataract Refract Surg 2003;29:2057–9.
Bechrakis NE, Foerster MH, Bornfeld N. Biopsy in indeterminate intraocular tumors. Ophthalmology 2002;109:235–42.(P T Finger1,2,3, P Latkan)
2 The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, USA
3 New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
Correspondence to:
Paul T Finger
MD, FACS, The New York Eye Cancer Center,115 East 61st Street, New York City, NY 10021, USA; pfinger@eyecancer.com
Accepted for publication 1 January 2005
ABSTRACT
Aims: To develop a minimally invasive, maximally effective method to biopsy anterior segment tumours.
Methods: A 25 gauge aspiration cutter (vitrector) was used to biopsy anterior segment tumours. The probe was introduced under sodium hyaluronate 1% and through a 1 mm incision. Aspiration (600 mm Hg) cutting (300 cpm) was performed to obtain specimens for cytology and histopathology.
Results: Diagnostic material was obtained in nine of 10 (90%) cases. Diagnoses included iris naevus, iris stroma, malignant melanoma, melanocytoma, epithelial inclusion cyst, and sarcoid granuloma. All corneal wounds were self sealing. One patient developed a transient postoperative increase in intraocular pressure. Within the follow up of this study, no patients suffered intraocular haemorrhage, infection, cataract or vision loss.
Conclusion: The Finger iridectomy technique was a minimally invasive and very effective biopsy technique. Aspiration cutting yielded relatively large pieces of tissue (and cells) used for cytopathological and histopathological evaluation. Small incision surgery allowed for rapid rehabilitation and no significant complications.
Abbreviations: cpm, cuts per minute; FIT, Finger iridectomy technique; FNAB, fine needle aspiration biopsy; MVR, microvitreoretinal; PCIOL, posterior chamber intraocular lens
Keywords: iris; biopsy; cytology; fine needle aspiration biopsy; melanoma; sarcoid; ciliary body; anterior segment
Iris, iridociliary, and other anterior segment tumours can be easily accessible for biopsy with subsequent cytological and histopathological evaluation.1–6 Typically, specimens have been obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or surgical iridectomy through a corneal or limbal incision.7,8 Unfortunately, FNAB (utilising a 23–27 gauge sharp needle) often yields few cells and carries the risk of lacerating the lens, iris blood vessels, and the ciliary body with the sharp needle tip and edges. In contrast, surgical iridectomy is a much larger procedure that requires a corneal wound and sutures, with subsequent visual rehabilitation.6,9
Here we describe a new technique for minimally invasive iris biopsy (with less surgical trauma). Under sodium hyaluronate 1% stabilisation, this technique utilises a 25 gauge aspiration cutter to sample iris and iridociliary tumours through a 1 mm (self sealing) clear corneal incision.
METHODS
Privacy and informed consent
Over the past 5 years, 244 anterior segment tumours were managed by one of our authors (PTF) within the framework of the New York Eye Cancer Center. From this group of patients, the last 10 that required biopsy are included in this interventional case report (table 1).
Table 1 Patient and tumour characteristics
Each was noted to have an anterior segment tumour with either documented growth or a history of growth from the referring physician. Our indications for biopsy are tumour growth (n = 10), diagnosis of atypical tumours (n = 0), or when management requires or when the patient requests a histopathological diagnosis (n = 10). Growth was defined as enlargement of tumour margins as documented in conference with the referring physician (n = 3), or by serial slit lamp photography and high frequency ultrasound evaluation over time (n = 7).1,4,6,7,10 Each patient signed a treatment consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) form. Each was offered FNAB or surgical iridectomy as an alternative biopsy technique. When applicable, preoperative medical oncology evaluations proved negative for metastatic cancer.
Surgical technique
Preparation
Each patient was medically cleared for local anaesthesia with sedation. In the operating room retrobulbar and facial nerve anaesthetic blocks were administered. The patient’s face and eye were prepared with an iodine based topical antibiotic. An eyelid speculum was introduced and the operating microscope adjusted to maximally visualise the anterior segment tumour.
The Finger iridectomy technique (FIT)
A 0.3 forcep was used to stabilise the eye at the limbus. A microvitreoretinal (MVR) blade was used to create a stab incision through clear juxtalimbal cornea, into the anterior chamber. A clear corneal incision guaranteed that any liberated cancer cells would exit the patient’s body (addressing concerns about tumour seeding).11 In most cases, incisions were made in positions on the same side as the tumour (so as to avoid the need to cross the pupil). Acetylcholine chloride 10 mg/ml (Miochol-E, CibaVision Novartis, Basle, Switzerland) was introduced into the anterior chamber to stabilise the iris and induce miosis. Then sodium hyaluronate 1% (Healon, Advanced Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) was used to fill the anterior chamber. Sodium hyaluronate 1% served to maintain the anterior chamber depth (during biopsy), and to position the iris for biopsy (typically away from the natural lens). We have found that Healon was better than no infusion or saline infusion for safely stabilising the anterior chamber.
A 25 gauge aspiration biopsy cannula (vitrectomy probe) was inserted into the anterior chamber (fig 1). The aspiration port was rotated as to be (at least partially) occluded by the tumour. Aspiration cutting (Accurus, Alcon, Ft Worth, TX, USA) was typically started on suction of 300 mm Hg and a cutting rate of 600 cuts per minute (cpm). These settings were then adjusted as to maximise the efficiency of the process under direct visualisation (while trying to keep the cut rate as low as possible).
Figure 1 In case 1, the 25 gauge aspiration cutter placed through the clear corneal wound as to approximate a pigmented iridociliary tumour.
Though most cases merely thinned the tumour, more dramatic appearing partial thickness iridectomies were obtained by FIT (fig 2). Each time the cutter was removed from the eye, the cutter portal was placed in solution and the aspirate flushed from the effluent tube into an empty 3 ml syringe (with 0.5 ml of saline). Specimens were immediately sent to the pathology department for cytological evaluation. The biopsy procedure was repeated until the pathologist reported that the specimen was adequate for diagnosis. Two to three biopsies were typically performed in each case. Once an adequate specimen was obtained, the residual sodium hyaluronate 1% was removed from the eye by manual aspiration irrigation with balanced salt solution.
Figure 2 In case 6, a partial thickness, lamellar iridectomy biopsy was created using the Finger iridectomy technique (FIT).
Closure
The corneal wound was found to be self sealing in all cases. At the end of surgery, an antibiotic steroid solution was injected beneath the conjunctiva, one drop of timolol maleate 0.5% and antibiotic steroid ointment was placed on the eye, then it was patched and shielded. Patients were discharged (on the same day) on topical steroid, antibiotic, and agents to maintain intraocular pressure control.
Pathology
Cytospin technique
A cytospin technique was used to optimise the biopsy yield. Cytospin slides were cleaned with alcohol and assembled with a slide filter card and sample delivery chamber, secured by a metal clip. Approximately 0.5 ml of fluid sample (3–5 drops) were added to the chamber together with an equal amount of cytospin collection fluid (cytospin slides, filter cards, sample chambers, metal clips, and collection fluid (all from Thermo-Shandon, Pittsburgh, PA, USA). After spinning at 1800 rpm for 2 minutes, the slides were removed from the cytospin chamber, further fixed in cytology fixative (70% alcohol/formalin), and stained with the standard haematoxylin and eosin methods.
If pieces of biopsy specimen could be visualised in the 3 ml syringe or cytospin collection fluid, the paraffin embedded cell block technique offers the advantage of multiple sections that can be used for histochemical and immunohistochemical stains. In this series, we tended to be biased towards the use of cytology because of our previous experience with the low cellular yields that were typically provided by FNAB and our desire to preserve every possible cell for diagnosis.
RESULTS
Since August 2003, 10 tumours were biopsied (table 2). This minimally invasive iridectomy technique was found capable of yielding adequate specimens in 90% (9/10) of cases. Interestingly, the biopsy of what proved to be a sarcoid granuloma could not be accomplished by either FNAB or aspiration biopsy. In this case (No 4), a corneal section with open biopsy was required (table 2). One patient (No 1) developed a transient postoperative pressure spike related to the sodium hyaluronate 1%. In the other nine patients, no other acute postoperative or short term follow up complications could be related to this surgical technique.
Table 2 Results of biopsy
Cytological and histopathological analysis
Most of the iris tumours in this series were melanotic (table 2). In the cases diagnosed as iris naevus, cells were small, moderately pigmented, and ovoid with bland uniform nucleoli. In the cases diagnosed as malignant melanoma, a number of melanocytic cells were naevoid, intermediate size, and spindle shaped. But, other relatively large epithelial cells with wrinkled nuclear contour, conspicuous nucleoli, and intranuclear inclusions were diagnostic of malignant melanoma (fig 3B). Unique to this FIT biopsy technique, relatively large clumps (0.4 –0.5 mm) of tissue were available to evaluate cellular density and arrangement (fig 3).
Figure 3 (A) In case 1, a group of multiple, markedly pigmented iris melanocytes in which individual cells are barely discernible. The inset shows a single cell with a small, round, and normochromatic nucleus surrounded by abundant cytoplasm with numerous melanosomes consistent with melanocytoma. Pigment outside the cell boundaries is an artefact of centrifugation. (B) In case 6, large, densely cellular fragment containing several hundreds of mostly spindle cells with high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and focal melanin pigmentation. The inset reveals hyperchromatic, elongated nuclei with irregular contours, nuclear grooves, and moderate pleomorphism consistent with malignant melanoma.
Case 1
A 34 year old man presented with a history of an enlarging pigmented iridociliary tumour with extrascleral extension. Ophthalmic examination revealed increased pigmentation of 4 clock hours of the iris anterior to a 4.7 mm high ciliary body tumour (table 1). A biopsy utilising the FIT technique yielded copious benign and heavily pigmented cells and tissue diagnostic of melanocytoma (fig 3A).
A surgical iridectomy confirmed the diagnosis (table 2). In this case, the FIT specimen was characterised by the presence of large benign appearing melanocytes and markedly pigmented iris epithelial cells (fig 3A). Subsequent histopathology revealed densely packed large cells with abundant melanin laden cytoplasm. Nuclei were bland, ovoid, and uniform with only occasional small basophilic nucleoli. No eosinophilic nucleoli or nuclear folds were apparent.
Case 6
This representative case involved a 65 year old woman who initially presented in June 2002 with a relatively small (AJCC-T1a), variably pigmented iris tumour with intrinsic vascularity and ectropion uveae in her left eye. Over 2 years, serial observation had revealed expansion of the ectropion uveae and increased tapioca coloured tumour visible on the iris surface (table 1). This case was complicated by Salzman’s corneal dystrophy (of the nasal quadrants); therefore a superior approach was employed (fig 2). FIT resulted in a lamellar iridectomy biopsy that was found to be diagnostic for malignant iris melanoma (fig 3B).
Complications
Since the first biopsy was performed (April 2003), no patient has lost vision as a result of this minimally invasive iridectomy procedure (table 2). One patient developed transient (<48 hours) ocular hypertension. The patient with the large iridociliary melanocytoma developed controllable intraocular pressure elevation after both FIT and surgical iridectomy.
Postoperative evaluations have revealed no wound leaks, hyphaema, endophthalmitis, cataract, or secondary refractive errors. These findings have largely been attributed to our use of a small incision, lack of irrigation, and small series of patients. All surgeries were performed in the ambulatory setting. Patients were re-examined at least within 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.
DISCUSSION
Anterior segment tumours are typically accessible to biopsy through the cornea.8,12 Biopsy techniques have included standard iridectomy, iridocyclectomy, transcorneal tumour biopsy and fine needle aspiration (FNAB).6 There is agreement that a transcorneal approach reduces concerns about tumour seeding.11 Fine needle aspiration biopsy has been performed with sharp or blunt needles (D Bardenstein, personal communication). Most centres use sharp 22 gauge or 25 gauge needles introduced through clear cornea to poke or scrape the tumour. Cells are aspirated through the needle, extension tubing, and into a 5 ml or 10 ml syringe for subsequent cytological evaluation.
Vitreous cutters have also been employed to perform iridectomy.13,14 Ghanem et al used a cutter during phacoemulsification in patients with iridoschisis.13 Fastenberg and Bechrakis used a vitreous cutter based system for biopsy of indeterminate intraocular tumours (some of which were located in the iris).10,14
The FIT is different from these techniques; it is a minimally invasive approach utilising a 25 gauge aspiration cutter probe to perform localised iridectomy through a 1 mm incision (under sodium hyaluronate 1%). Unlike the Ghanem technique there is no scleral phacoemulsification incision, or irrigation. Similarly, Bechrakis employed a relatively large aspiration cutter (20 gauge) and a 21 gauge infusion cannula (to maintain anterior chamber depth). Their corneal incisions were reported to require closure with 10-0 nylon sutures. Clearly, irrigation can make harvesting iris tumour fragments more difficult.
In this series, a pathological diagnosis was achieved in nine of 10 (90%) cases. No patients lost vision and only one intraocular pressure spike could be attributed to the FIT. This study introduces the concept of using a 25 gauge aspiration cutter to perform minimally invasive biopsies of anterior segment tumours (for example, iris and iridociliary tumours) through a solitary 1 mm incision (under sodium hyaluronate 1%).
REFERENCES
Veasey CA Jr. Intraocular biopsy. Am J Ophthalmol 1951;34:432–4.
Char DH, Kroll SM, Stoloff A, et al. Cytomorphometry of uveal melanoma. Comparison of fine needle aspiration biopsy samples with histologic sections. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 1991;13:293–9.
Midena E, Segato T, Piermarocchi S, et al. Fine needle aspiration biopsy in ophthalmology. Surv Ophthalmol 1985;29:410–22.
Augsburger JJ, Shields JA. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of solid intraocular tumors: indications, instrumentation and techniques. Ophthalmic Surg 1984;15:34–40.
Augsburger JJ, Shields JA. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of solid intraocular tumors. Trans Pa Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1983;36:169–72.
Marigo FA, Finger PT. Anterior segment tumors: current concepts and innovations. Surv Ophthalmol 2003;48:569–93.
Gupta M, Puri P, Jacques R, et al. Fine needle aspiration biopsy: an investigative tool for iris metastasis. Eye 2001;15 (Pt 4) :541–2.
Grossniklaus HE. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the iris. Arch Ophthalmol 1992;110:969–76.
Finger PT, McCormick SA, Lombardo J, et al. Epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris. Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:777–80.
Fastenberg DM, Finger PT, Chess Q, et al. Vitrectomy retinotomy aspiration biopsy of choroidal tumors. Am J Ophthalmol 1990;110:361–5.
Karcioglu ZA, Gordon RA, Karcioglu GL. Tumor seeding in ocular fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ophthalmology 1985;92:1763–7.
Finger PT. Plaque radiation therapy for malignant melanoma of the iris and ciliary body. Am J Ophthalmol 2001;132:328–35.
Ghanem VC, Ghanem EA, Ghanem RC. Iridectomy of the anterior iris stroma using the vitreocutter during phacoemulsification in patients with iridoschisis. J Cataract Refract Surg 2003;29:2057–9.
Bechrakis NE, Foerster MH, Bornfeld N. Biopsy in indeterminate intraocular tumors. Ophthalmology 2002;109:235–42.(P T Finger1,2,3, P Latkan)