Small Choroidal Melanocytic Lesions: Features Predictive of Growth

Purpose: To evaluate clinical features at presentation of small choroidal melanocytic lesions that were predictive of growth.

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Participants: A cohort of 240 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of small choroidal melanocytic lesions who were observed to document growth before treatment.

Methods: Data regarding size, location, diagnostic features, and growth were collected. To evaluate the diagnostic features at presentation, Barnard and Fisher exact tests were performed for categorical variables, and the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for continuous factors.

Main Outcome Measure: Documented growth.

Results: Eleven patients with small choroidal melanocytic lesions (4.6%) demonstrated growth within 50 months of follow-up. Lesions that demonstrated growth were significantly thicker (> or =2.0 mm; P<0.001) and closer to the foveola (<3.0 mm; P = 0.002). Significant increases in the risk of growth also were observed for gender (male), presence of symptoms, and orange pigment.

Conclusions: Significant clinical features of small choroidal melanocytic lesions predictive of growth are greater thickness (> or =2.0 mm), location closer to the foveola (<3.0 mm), and presence of symptoms and orange pigment.