Ultrasound biomicroscopic findings in a cavitary melanocytoma of the ciliary body

Acute subconjunctival pigmentation with an underlying ciliary body mass: An unusual case presentation

Intraocular melanocytoma is a rare slowly growing benign tumor that may occur anywhere along the uveal tract including the ciliary body but is more commonly found near the optic disc. It is darkly pigmented and may exhibit fast growth and possibly malignant transformation. Ciliary body (CB) melanocytoma is rare and often misdiagnosed as a melanoma. We are reporting a case of CB melanocytoma in a 74-year old lady with unusual initial presentation of an acute onset of subconjunctival pigmentation and extra-scleral extension of the melanocytoma with coarse melanin granules. The diagnosis of melanocytoma was confirmed by histopathological examination of the prolapsed tissue and by ultrastructural studies. Literature review of similar cases is also summarized.

A case of ciliary body melanocytoma presenting as a painful iris mass

We report a case of ciliary body melanocytoma in a Korean patient, which presented as an intermittently painful pigmented iris mass and was successfully managed by iridocyclectomy. A 52-year-old healthy man presented with an irregularly-shaped and heavily-pigmented mass at the iris root of his right eye. Visual acuity of the right eye was 20/20 with normal intraocular pressure. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a 1.5x1.3-mm ciliary-body mass with extension into the iris root. Iridocyclectomy with scleral resection under a lamellar scleral flap was performed, and the histopathologic features of the resected tissue were consistent with melanocytoma of the ciliary body. The patient's visual acuity remained 20/20 with good postoperative cosmesis. During one year of follow-up, no signs of tumor recurrence were seen, and the patient reported resolution of the intermittent ocular pain in the involved eye.

Melanocytoma of ciliary body and choroids simulating melanoma

Melanocytoma is a rare intraocular tumor. There are some reports in the literature dealing with primary melanocytomas of the choroid and ciliary body. It is believed that most of these tumors are clinically diagnosed as nevi or melanoma, and are followed up or treated without surgical resection, respectively. Some clinical features can give a clue as to the correct diagnosis. We report on a 47-year-old white female with progressive visual loss of 2 months and right painful eye. Her visual acuity of finger counting was confined to 3.0m OD and 20/20 OS. Biomicroscopy OD showed a 360 degrees posterior synechia, and fundoscopy was not conclusive due to vitreous opacity. No alterations were seen on OS. Intraocular pressure was normal, and the pupillary reflex was present in both eyes. An ultrasound of the OD showed an elevated tumor on topography of the ciliary body and anterior choroid at the ora serrata level. Melanoma was the main diagnosis considered, and enucleation was indicated due to poor prognosis for visual acuity. Gross and histopathologic examinations of the OD showed a heavily pigmented tumor. The brownish pigment obscured the morphology of the tumor cells that could not be visualized by conventional H&E stain. Bleached slides showed that tumor was composed of melanocytoma cells type I.

Melanocytoma (hyperpigmented magnocellular nevus) of the uveal tract: the 34th G. Victor Simpson lecture

Optic nerve melanocytoma is a variant of melanocytic nevus that has typical clinical and histopathologic features. In addition to occurring in the optic nerve, melanocytoma can also be found in the uveal tract, including the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Most ophthalmologists are not familiar with these extrapapilary melanocytomas. This review covers the history, terminology, demographics, clinical futures, clinical course, histopathology, differential diagnosis, diagnostic techniques, management, and prognosis for melanocytomas that develop in the uveal tract, separate from the optic nerve. Like standard uveal nevi, melanocytoma can rarely spawn a malignant melanoma.