Correlation of fundus autofluorescence with fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography in choroidal melanocytic lesions.

PURPOSE

To correlate fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns with fluorescein/indocyanine green angiographic (FA/ICGA) features in choroidal melanocytic lesions.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 30 consecutive patients with choroidal nevi and melanoma who underwent FAF photography and FA/ICGA. The FAF pattern was classified as patchy or diffuse. The FA images were evaluated at the arterial, early venous, late venous, midphase, and late phases. The ICGA images were evaluated at the early and midlate phase. The fluorescence within the tumor was classified as hyperfluorescent, pinpoint hyperfluorescent, isofluorescent, or hypofluorescent with respect to the surrounding retina or choroid. Statistical analysis was performed using two sample t test for continuous data. For categorical or ordinal data, Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used depending on the sample size being studied.

RESULTS

Nineteen of 30 tumors (63.3%) were choroidal melanoma and 11 (36.7%) were choroidal nevus. Thirteen choroidal melanomas had a diffuse FAF pattern. Six choroidal melanomas and 11 choroidal nevi had a patchy FAF pattern. The diffuse FAF pattern was significantly associated with the clinical diagnosis of choroidal melanoma versus choroidal nevus (P = 0.00001), increased tumor thickness (P = 0.00001), and increased tumor base diameter (P = 0.001), partially pigmented or amelanotic versus pigmented lesion color (P = 0.006), early venous hyperfluorescence on FA (P = 0.015), and late hyperfluorescence on FA (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

Diffuse FAF is more often associated with larger choroidal melanomas as well as early venous and late hyperfluorescence on FA angiography.