Melanoma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Melanoma, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Estimating choroidal melanoma volume: comparison of methods.

Singh AD, Terman S, Sculley L

Department of Ophthalmic Oncology, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. singha@ccf.org

PURPOSE: To evaluate published methods of estimating choroidal melanoma volume. DESIGN: Prospective consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: Ten consecutive patients with primary choroidal melanoma. METHODS: After determination of tumor dimensions (largest tumor basal diameter, basal perpendicular diameter, and height), tumor volume was calculated for each tumor by using the 5 published methods. Percent differences in tumor volume were determined for each tumor as calculated by different methods. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Choroidal melanoma volume. RESULTS: The mean variation in estimated tumor volume expressed as a ratio was 2.33 (range, 1.64-3.84). CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal melanoma volume calculation methods are inconsistent and caution is needed when volume measures are used for prognostic classification.

Published 4 June 2007 in Ophthalmology, 114(6): 1212-4.
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