A modified digital slit lamp camera system for transillumination photography of intraocular tumours

Abstract

We recommend this technique in all cases where transillumination and photographic documentation of intraocular tumours are considered important.

Near-infrared transillumination photography of intraocular tumours

“…While the conventional transillumination photographs were useful to define the tumour shadow in relation to conjunctival and episcleral vessels,2 the near-infrared images provided more accurate information on tumour location relative to intraocular landmarks such as the ora serrata and ciliary body. This can be explained by the optical properties of near-infrared radiation, which has a good penetration depth in tissues 5.…”

“…Our technique of transillumination photography has been described in detail elsewhere 2. Briefly, the digital slit lamp camera system Haag-Streit Photo-Slit Lamp BX 900 (Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland) was modified by loosening the locking screw that secures the flexible background illumination cable to its holder, releasing the cable and covering the tip of the fibre optic with sterile and transparent polyethylene drape (figure 1A).…”

“…For photographic documentation, however, the technique is less suitable, as the low light intensity usually leads to dark and blurred images. In a recent report, we have described how to modify and use a conventional digital slit lamp camera system for transillumination photography of intraocular tumours 2. The procedure was performed by gently pressing the tip of the background illumination fibre optic cable against the surface of the sclera or the cornea for transocular or transpupillary transillumination, respectively.…”

“…Due to the high level of illumination delivered by the electronic flash unit and the advanced imaging technology of the system, a significantly improved image resolution was achieved. The new technique made it possible to obtain high-quality photographs suitable to outline the tumours and to evaluate their location and extent in relation to fine landmarks such as conjunctival and episcleral vessels 2. The strong light from the flash also offered the possibility of filtering the transmitted light for observations in the near-infrared spectral region.…”

Transillumination: A simple tool to assess subungual extension in periungual warts

“…[1] In medicine, it has a variety of applications in fields such as skull base surgeries, dentistry, urology, and ophthalmology. [2–5] However, in dermatology, the use of transillumination has been limited to early detection of melanoma and on a detailed literature search; to the best of our knowledge, there was only one reference to this technique earlier in dermatology literature. [6–8]…”