MATERIALSANDMETHODS

The eyes of four patients with malignant melanomas of the choroid and diffuse drusen were used in this study. The drusen described in this report were noted clinically at sites distant from the tumor and in otherwise healthy retina. The full clinical findings and retinal function studies are reported elsewhere. 3 The globes were opened at the operating room table. Sections were reserved for frozen tissue studies and the remainder was immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde in 0. 2 M phosphate buffer pH 7.0. The tissues were processed and embedded in paraffin. Sections (8| x) were prepared and stained with the following stains: hematoxylin-eosin; periodic acid-Schiff (PAS); Rinehart and Abúl-Haj colloidal iron; alcian blue at pH 2.5 and pH 1.0; alcian blue pH 2.5-safranin pH 1.0; alcian blue pH 2.5-aldehyde fuchsin; alcian blue pH 2.5-PAS-phenylhydrazine; azure A at pH 0.5 and pH 5.0; Congo red (Bennhold's); Gomori, Wilder reticulum stains; ninhydrin-Schiff; luxol