Y Kita1, H Yabe, K Shikishima, K Takahashi. 1. Second Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University School of Medicine, 2-17-6 Ohashi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8515, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of a 69-year-old woman with malignant melanoma of her right socket, who had undergone evisceration of her right globe for unknown reasons at the age of 6. CASE: A 69-year-old woman presented with the complaint of inability to keep the prosthesis in her socket. A large blackish brown mass was seen behind the eyelids, and biopsy of this tissue revealed a mixed type malignant melanoma. A right exenteration was performed and histopathologic examination demonstrated a large tumor mass anterior and adjacent to the remains of the eviscerated globe. CONCLUSION: During evisceration, uveal pigment may be incompletely removed from the globe, or may be inadvertently scattered in the orbit. This case may demonstrate the development of a malignant melanoma from the uvea of an eviscerated globe. We recommend that careful long-term follow-up be performed on patients who have undergone evisceration.
BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of a 69-year-old woman with malignant melanoma of her right socket, who had undergone evisceration of her right globe for unknown reasons at the age of 6. CASE: A 69-year-old woman presented with the complaint of inability to keep the prosthesis in her socket. A large blackish brown mass was seen behind the eyelids, and biopsy of this tissue revealed a mixed type malignant melanoma. A right exenteration was performed and histopathologic examination demonstrated a large tumor mass anterior and adjacent to the remains of the eviscerated globe. CONCLUSION: During evisceration, uveal pigment may be incompletely removed from the globe, or may be inadvertently scattered in the orbit. This case may demonstrate the development of a malignant melanoma from the uvea of an eviscerated globe. We recommend that careful long-term follow-up be performed on patients who have undergone evisceration.