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Featured Services
Dr. Finger's Ocular, Orbital and Systemic Imaging Techniques:
These services allow for the most complete office evaluations of ocular and orbital tumors that are possible.
Dr. Finger's New Surgical Techniques:
Dr. Finger has invented numerous new surgical techniques and instruments specifically for patients with eye cancer. Over the years he pioneered the use of microwave hyperthermia, palladium-103 plaque radiation therapy, Finger-tip Cryotherapy Applicators, the Finger Iridectomy Technique, and Finger's Slotted Plaques.
Radiation Plaque Therapy
Though microwave hyperthermia provided excellent results for patients with choroidal melanoma, this technique could not find a commercial sponsor. Fortunately, Dr. Finger found similar vision sparing qualities offered by substituting palladium-103 for the more commonly used iodine-125 seeds in ophthalmic plaques. In Dr. Finger's recent publication covering 18-years experience with palladium-103 plaque therapy, he found that The New York Eye Cancer Center reported the highest local tumor control, eye and visual acuity retention rates compared to other published studies/clinical centers. This is (in part) due to his medical physics staff that performs pretreatment comparative dosimetry studies so that each patient is treated with the best plaque radiation source.
Finger-tip Cryotherapy Applicators
Dr. Finger introduced the "Finger-tip" cryotherapy applicators for treatment of malignant conjunctival tumors. Unlike standard cryotherapy probes, these devices are spatulated and offer a larger and more uniform targeted zone. Simply using these probes will decrease the chance of missing a small area of tumor. These large probes can also be used to grasp tumors of the orbit and provide traction to help in their removal. It has also been used to facilitate enucleation surgery.
The Finger Iridectomy Technique
Dr. Finger was unhappy about the safety and ability of needle biopsy for tumors of the iris and ciliary body, and he invented the "Finger Iridectomy Technique." This technique uses a relatively safe and rounded aspiration cutter through a self-sealing corneal incision to biopsy intraocular tumors. Unlike needle biopsy that only retrieves cells for cytology, the Finger Iridectomy Technique typically obtains both cells and small chunks of tumor. This allows Dr. Finger's pathologists to evaluate cytology, histopathology and perform immunohistochemical analysis. This technique has also been used to remove iris tumors and to create an iridotomy for narrow angle glaucoma.
Finger's Slotted Plaques for Choroidal Melanoma
Dr. Finger wanted to offer an eye and vision-sparing alternative to removal of the eye for patients with tumors touching or surrounding the optic nerve. So, he invented "Finger's Slotted Plaques." These new devices incorporate the orbital portion of the optic nerve within the plaque, so that the treatment zone can be extended as to cover the entire tumor. Now that we have extra-large 24 mm diameter and slotted plaques, Dr. Finger only removes less than 8% of eyes with choroidal melanoma. He has noticed that if possible, most patients want to keep their eye.
