Fluorescein and indocyanine green videoangiography of choroidal melanomas

Purpose: This study was performed to determine what role indocyanine green video angiography might play in the evaluation of choroidal melanomas, and to compare this role with that of fluorescein angiography. Methods: Six patients with posterior segment uveal melanoma underwent digit al fluorescein and indocyanine green videoangiography. All patients were wo men and their mean age was 50.7 years. Results: In all eyes with melanoma, fluorescein angiography revealed irregu lar hyperfluorescence in the early phase and staining of the tumor in the l ate phase. A double circulation pattern was obvious in 1 eye with a mushroo m-shaped melanoma. The patterns of indocyanine green videoangiography varie d, depending on the degree of tumor pigmentation, thickness, and vascularit y. Early frames of indocyanine green video angiography demonstrated hypoflu orescence in all eyes, and the intrinsic choroidal vasculature was obvious in 3 eyes. In the late phase of indocyanine green videoangiograms, differen t patterns (hyperfluorescence, three-ring pattern) were observed. Conclusion: Indocyanine green videoangiography may be a useful adjunct to f luorescein angiography in the evaluation of choroidal melanomas. Jpn J Opht halmol 1999;43:25-30 (C) 1999 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.