Purpose: Methods of management for choroidal melanomas include basically observation, radiotherapy, surgery, and laser therapy. A reliable measure of the size of the tumor is very important to follow tumor growth. The purpose of this experimental study is to verify the reliability of a low-cost mathematical model to measure areas of tumors of the fundus. Methods: Twenty-five eyes of pigmented rabbits were used in this study. Experimental Greene hamster amelanotic choroidal melanomas were implanted into the suprachoroidal space. When the tumors reached 3 to 4 papillary diameters, we performed retinography and fluorescein angiograms with a fixed focus retinal camera without Imaginet. Through a mathematical formula we found the real values of tumor areas. Results: It was possible to verify the real value of tumor areas and it was possible to verify by a comparative analysis that there was no statistically significant difference between them (p=0.717). Conclusions: We concluded that with a non-Imaginet retinal camera and a mathematical formula, it was possible to measure accurately the real areas of the hamster amelanotic melanomas implanted into the suprachoroidal space of rabbits.
Melanoma, amelanotic; Melanoma; amelanotic; Melanoma; amelanotic; Choroid neoplasms; Laser therapy; low-level; Mathematical models; Animal; Rabbits
