Ultrasonographic features of ciliary body mesectodermal leiomyoma.

AIM: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of ciliary body mesectodermal leiomyomas (CBL).

METHODS

Ultrasonographic data of 18 eyes from 18 patients with histopathologically confirmed CBL were analyzed, covering the period from March 2018 to February 2024. The study included 5 male and 13 female patients, aged 14-64y, with a mean age of 40.11±13.54y. The following ultrasonographic features were evaluated: tumor base diameter, thickness, maximum base diameter-to-thickness ratio, shape, internal echogenicity, margin echogenicity, internal echo homogeneity, secondary changes, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) findings, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics.

RESULTS

Conventional ultrasound findings of the 18 CBL cases were as follows: 1) Tumor size: base diameter of (13.48±4.74)×(11.57±4.00) mm2, thickness of 7.70±2.60 mm, and maximum base diameter-to-thickness ratio of 1.77±0.36. 2) Shape: 14 cases (77.8%) were hemispherical, and 4 cases (22.2%) were irregular. 3) Internal echogenicity: the solid component of the tumor was hypoechoic in 16 cases (88.9%) and low-to-medium echogenic in 2 cases (11.1%). 4) Margin echogenicity: relatively hyperechoic with a "ring-shaped" margin in 15 cases (83.3%) and isoechoic in 3 cases (16.7%; compared with internal echogenicity). 5) Internal echo homogeneity: homogeneous in 11 cases (61.1%) and heterogeneous in 7 cases (38.9%), with 6 cases (33.3%) among the 7 heterogeneous cases exhibiting cystic anechoic areas. 6) Secondary retinal detachment was observed in 4 cases (22.2%). CDFI revealed heterogeneous vascularity within the tumors, with blood flow signals ranging from minimal to marked. CEUS was performed in 14 patients: complete contrast agent perfusion was observed in 10 cases (71.4%), and partial perfusion was noted in 4 cases (28.6%). Additionally, 8 cases (57.1%) showed a rapid wash-in and slow wash-out pattern, while 6 cases (42.9%) demonstrated a rapid wash-in and rapid wash-out pattern.

CONCLUSION

CBL exhibit relatively typical ultrasonographic features, which can provide valuable evidence for the clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of intraocular tumors.