Microcirculation architecture of metastases from primary ciliary body and choroidal melanomas.

Abstract

To describe the microcirculation architecture of metastatic choroidal and ciliary body melanoma. Histologic sections of 35 metastases from 19 primary melanomas were stained to demonstrate microcirculation. The appearance of microcirculatory networks in metastases is independent of the target organ but associated with the size of the metastatic deposit (estimated coefficient = 0.5959; SE = 0.3024; P = .0488). The microcirculatory patterns of primary uveal melanomas that are associated with metastatic behavior appear in foci of metastasis, regardless of the site of dissemination.