Prevalence and Size Distribution of Choroidal Nevi in a Predominantly Hispanic Population: A Retrospective Study

Auteurs-es

  • Pedro Ivonnet National Vision

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.65636/cjo.v88i2.6660

Mots-clés :

choroid, choroidal nevus, melanoma

Résumé

Introduction
Choroidal nevi are common, benign ocular lesions, yet their prevalence and size distribution may vary across populations and clinical settings.
Method
In this retrospective study, we evaluated the prevalence of choroidal nevi in a predominantly Hispanic patient population using standard fundus photography.
Results
Among 4,179 patients examined over a 12-month period, we identified 555 choroidal nevi, yielding a prevalence of 13.2%. Notably, 88% of nevi were smaller than the optic nerve head diameter, a size range that may escape detection during routine exams.
Conclusion
This high proportion of small lesions suggests that choroidal nevi may be frequently under-detected, particularly in settings where imaging capabilities are limited. These findings underscore the importance of careful documentation and highlight how imaging modality influences diagnostic sensitivity. Expanded clinical vigilance and improved imaging access may enhance detection and monitoring.

Références

1. Qiu M, Shields CL. Choroidal nevus in the United States adult population: Racial disparities and associated factors in the national health and nutrition examination survey. Ophthalmology. 2015;122(10):2071-2083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.06.008

2. Chien JL, Sioufi K, Surakiatchanukul T, Shields JA, Shields CL. Choroidal nevus: A review of prevalence, features, genetics, risks, and outcomes. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2017;28(3):228-237. https://doi.org/10.1097/ICU.0000000000000361

3. Greenstein MB, Myers CE, Meuer SM, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of choroidal nevi: The multiethnic study of atherosclerosis. Ophthalmology. 2011;118(12): 2468-2473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.05.007

4. Sumich P, Mitchell P, Wang JJ. Choroidal nevi in a white population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116(5): 645-650. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.116.5.645

5. Gordon-Shaag A, Barnard S, Millodot M, et al. Prevalence of choroidal naevi using scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2014;34(1):94-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12092

6. Marous CL, Shields CL, Yu MD, Dalvin LA, Ancona- Lezama D, Shields JA. Malignant transformation of choroidal nevus according to race in 3334 consecutive patients. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2019;67(12):2035-2042. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1217_19

7. Shields CL, Manalac J, Das C, Saktanasate J, Shields JA. Review of spectral domain enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography of tumors of the choroid. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2015;63(2):117-121. https://doi.org/10.4103/0301-4738.154377

8. Hammer M, Kreilkamp L, Sauer L, Ach T, Smith T, Curcio C. Fundus autofluorescence from drusen is spectrally different from that of lipofuscin. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017;58(8):48. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article. aspx?articleid=2637945

9. Rohini S, Jayadev C, Venkatesh R, Nagesha CK. Utility of multimodal imaging in amelanotic choroidal nevus. BMJ Case Rep. 2022;15(11): Article e253053. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-253053

10. Singh AD, Kalyani P, Topham A. Estimating the risk of malignant transformation of a choroidal nevus. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(10):1784-1789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2005.06.011

11. Kaliki S, Shields CL. Uveal melanoma: Relatively rare but deadly cancer. Eye. 2017;31(2):241-257. https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2016.275

12. Shields CL, Lally SE, Dalvin LA, et al. White paper on ophthalmic imaging for choroidal nevus identification and transformation into melanoma. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2021;10(2):24. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.10.2.24

13. Kivela T, Eskelin S. Transformation of nevus to melanoma. Ophthalmology. 2006;113(5):887-888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.01.047

14. Qureshi MB, Lentz PC, Xu TT, et al. Choroidal nevus features associated with subspecialty referral. Ophthalmol Retina. 2023;7(12):1097-1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oret.2023.07.022

15. Shields CL, Shields JA, Kiratli H, De Potter P, Cater JR. Risk factors for growth and metastasis of small choroidal melanocytic lesions. Ophthalmology. 1995;102(9): 1351-1361. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(95)30864-0

16. Shields CL, Cater J, Shields JA, Singh AD, Santos MC, Carvalho C. Combination of clinical factors predictive of growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118(3):360-364. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.118.3.360

17. Shields CL, Furuta M, Berman EL, et al. Choroidal nevus transformation into melanoma: Analysis of 2514 consecutive cases. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(8):981-987. https://doi.org/10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.151

18. DeSimone JD, Shields CN, Kalafatis NE, et al. Understanding choroidal nevus risk factors for transformation into melanoma. Clin Dermatol. 2024;42(1):38-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.10.012

19. Flanagan JP, O’Day RF, Roelofs KA, et al. The MOLES system to guide the management of melanocytic choroidal tumors: Can optometrists apply it? Clin Exp Optom. 2023;106(3):271-275. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2022.2029685

Publié-e

2026-06-01

Comment citer

Ivonnet, P. (2026). Prevalence and Size Distribution of Choroidal Nevi in a Predominantly Hispanic Population: A Retrospective Study. Revue Canadienne d’optométrie, 88(2), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.65636/cjo.v88i2.6660

Numéro

Rubrique

Communications brèves