How is choroidal melanoma detected?
Because it occurs inside the eye and is not visible to patients, persons with a choroidal melanoma may not recognize its presence until the tumor has grown so large that vision is impaired. The tumor is usually diagnosed during an eye examination. It is visible through the “window” of the eye provided by the pupil, and the eye doctor will recognize the choroidal melanoma by the degree of pigmentation of the tumor, its shape, location, and other features. Ophthalmologists can make a diagnosis based on clinical appearance, photographs, and an ultrasound exam. Ultrasound is a test that transmits high frequency sound waves into the eye. The sound waves are reflected by ocular tissues and used to create a picture of the internal structure, which is displayed on a screen. The A-scan ultrasound is accurate in estimating the height of the tumor, while the B-scan shows orbital shadowing, which is a dark area behind the tumor. In fluorescein angiography, a fluorescent dye is injected into a vein
