Necrotic choroidal melanoma masquerading as scleritis

Nodular posterior scleritis mimicking melanotic choroidal melanoma: A diagnostic dilemma

PURPOSE

To report a case of atypical nodular posterior scleritis mimicking as a melanotic choroidal melanoma.

METHODS

Descriptive case report.

RESULTS

A 38-year-old female presented with sudden onset diminution of vision, severe pain and redness in her right eye. She was diagnosed to have choroidal melanoma in her left eye one year ago and underwent enucleation. On examination, conjunctiva was injected in right eye with cells in anterior vitreous face (AVF). Fundus examination revealed a large pigmented choroidal mass temporal to macula with exudative retinal detachment. Systemic evaluation and multimodal imaging ruled out the possibility of a choroidal melanoma or metastasis, with a presumptive diagnosis of nodular posterior scleritis. Three cycles of intravenous methyl prednisolone (IVMP) with a tapering dose of oral corticosteroids showed drastic improvement in symptoms with resolution of choroidal mass - further confirming the diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of choroidal mass with an inflammatory component, a trial of steroids is worthwhile to prevent clinical misjudgement and devastating treatment outcomes including enucleation.

Mimickers of anterior uveitis, scleritis and misdiagnoses- tips and tricks for the cornea specialist

BACKGROUND

Anterior uveitis, inflammation of the anterior chamber and related structures, is a cohort of diseases that can present to almost any general or sub-specialty Ophthalmology practice. Its features classically involve anterior chamber cell and flare. Below the surface of these two signs exist a panoply of diagnoses. BODY: The purpose of this review is to provide a general framework for diagnoses of anterior uveitis that are often missed as well as non-uveitic pathologies that often mimic anterior uveitis. Diagnostic deviation in either direction can have vision-threatening and rarely life-threatening consequences for patients. Using a comprehensive literature review we have collected a broad spectrum of etiologies of anterior uveitis that are easily missed and non-uveitic pathologies that can masquerade as anterior uveitis.

CONCLUSIONS

We present a focused review on specific misdiagnosed anterior uveitis pathologies and some of the conditions that can masquerade as anterior uveitis and scleritis.

Masquerade syndrome: A review of uveitic imposters

Masquerade syndromes in uveitis are complex clinical conditions where non-inflammatory diseases mimic uveitic manifestations, often leading to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review delves into the diverse spectrum of masquerade syndromes, categorizing them into neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities. We explore the prevalence of primary intraocular lymphoma, leukaemia, retinoblastoma, and other malignancies, as well as conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and endophthalmitis that can present as uveitis. Through detailed analysis of symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment approaches, the review emphasizes the importance of considering masquerade syndromes in differential diagnoses to prevent mismanagement. The synthesis of current knowledge aims to enhance clinicians' ability to discern these complex presentations, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and care, thereby improving patient outcomes in cases of uveitic masquerade syndromes.

Histopathologic and MR Imaging Appearance of Spontaneous and Radiation-Induced Necrosis in Uveal Melanomas: Initial Results

Simple Summary

Uveal melanomas may undergo necrosis, both spontaneously or following radiotherapy. Nowadays radiotherapy is the preferred treatment, whereas enucleation of the eye is used in selected cases. In order to differentiate the effects of radiotherapy from spontaneous degenerative changes in uveal melanomas, we compared the appearance of necrosis, both from a histopathological point of view and from the perspective of MR imaging, in two groups of patients with uveal melanoma: a group who had undergone previous proton beam radiotherapy (secondary enucleation); a control group who had undergone enucleation without any previous radiotherapy treatment (primary enucleation). Irradiated and nonirradiated uveal melanomas differ on the basis of the histological appearance, the MR imaging appearance and the distribution of necrosis. We hope that the findings we observed could be extended to all patients with uveal melanomas treated with radiotherapy, and may enhance the accuracy of radiologists in evaluating MR examinations after radiotherapy.

Abstract

Necrosis in uveal melanomas can be spontaneous or induced by radiotherapy. The purpose of our study was to compare the histopathologic and MRI findings of radiation-induced necrosis of a group of proton beam-irradiated uveal melanomas with those of spontaneous necrosis of a control group of patients undergoing primary enucleation. 11 uveal melanomas who had undergone proton beam radiotherapy, MRI and secondary enucleation, and a control group of 15 untreated uveal melanomas who had undergone MRI and primary enucleation were retrospectively identified. Within the irradiated and nonirradiated group, 7 and 6 eyes with histological evidence of necrosis respectively, were furtherly selected for the final analysis; the appearance of necrosis was assessed at histopathologic examination and MRI. Irradiated melanomas showed a higher degree of necrosis as compared with nonirradiated tumors. Irradiated and nonirradiated lesions differed based on the appearance and distribution of necrosis. Irradiated tumors showed large necrotic foci, sharply demarcated from the viable neoplastic tissue; nonirradiated tumors demonstrated small, distinct foci of necrosis. Radiation-induced necrosis, more pigmented than surrounding viable tumor, displayed high signal intensity on T1-weighted and low signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The hemorrhagic/coagulative necrosis, more prevalent in nonirradiated tumors (4 out of 6 vs. 1 out of 7 cases), appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted and hypointense on T1-weighted images. Our study boosts the capability to recognize radiation-induced alterations in uveal melanomas at MRI and may improve the accuracy of radiologists in the evaluation of follow-up MR examination after radiotherapy.