Echographic profile of senile disciform macular degeneration and problems of differential diagnosis [Profilo ecografico della degenerazione disciforme senile della macula e problemi di diagnosi differenziale]

Authors describe the echographic characteristics A and B-scan of the disciform macular degeneration. They also examine the problems of an echographic differential diagnosis between the upper described pathological pattern and the melanoma of small dimensions growing from the posterior pole. With the B-scan, both pathological patterns show a zone of echoes which is of solid aspect, not so much raised from the retina. The only characteristic element is the choroideal excavation that we always have in the choroideal melanoma and never in the disciform macular degeneration. Even the A-scan is useful mostly if we reduce the amplification level we have a separation of the internal echoes better in the disciform macular degeneration than in the melanoma. Moreover in some cases when the pathological area is small, we cannot have an echographic differential diagnosis in order to recognize the lesion.