RESUMEN
@#AIM: To analyze the impacts of the shape of uveal melanoma on retinal structure.<p>METHODS: Histopathological sections and clinical data from patients with uveal melanoma were retrospectively observed and analyzed, and key indicators including the tumor's shape, size, height-to-base ratio, retinal thinning and retinal invasion were analyzed.<p>RESULTS: The study included 102 patients(102 eyes)with a mean age of 45.6±12.4 years, with 76(75%)uveal melanomas showing the spindle cell type, 6(6%)showing the epitheloid cell type, 16(16%)showing the mixed cell type and 4(4%)showing predominantly other cell types. Differentiated by tumor locations: 3 cases of ciliary body melanoma(2.9%), 28 cases of ciliary body and choroid melanoma(27.5%), 71 cases of choroid melanoma(69.6%). Retinal thinning was detected in 43(43%)eyes and retinal invasion by the tumor cells in 86(84%)eyes. Maximal tumor height ranged between 1.2 and 15.6(mean: 8.3±3.6)mm, and mean maximal tumor base diameter was 17.3±6.5(range: 4.8-31.2)mm. Mean <i>R</i>-value as ratio of tumor peak height to maximal tumor base diameter was 0.53±0.32. Mean <i>R</i>-value was significantly higher in the group with retinal thinning(<i>n</i>=43)than in the group without retinal thinning(<i>n</i>=59)(0.69±0.31 <i>vs</i> 0.42±0.27; <i>P</i><0.01). <i>R</i>-value was slightly, however statistically not significantly higher in the group with retinal tumor invasion(<i>n</i>=86)than without retinal tumor invasion(<i>n</i>=16)(0.56±0.33 <i>vs</i> 0.41±0.25; <i>P</i>=0.09).<p>CONCLUSION: A high <i>R</i>-value indicating a prominent tumor is associated with tissue thinning in the adjacent retina, and marginally significantly with intra-retinal tumor cell invasion. Shape of uveal melanomas's corss section is of importance for the secondary involvement of the adjacent retina.