A Case of Non-Irradiated Balloon Cell Melanoma of the Choroid: Expanding the Morphological Spectrum of Primary Uveal Melanomas
Maria Failla,
Rosario Caltabiano,
Antonio Longo,
Andrea Russo,
Michele Reibaldi,
Teresio Avitabile,
Eliana Piombino,
Cristina Colarossi,
Lorenzo Colarossi,
Elena Tirrò,
Paolo Vigneri,
Pietro Valerio Foti,
Giuseppe Broggi
Affiliations
Maria Failla
Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Rosario Caltabiano
Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Antonio Longo
Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Andrea Russo
Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Michele Reibaldi
Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Teresio Avitabile
Eye Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Eliana Piombino
Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, 95029 Viagrande, Italy
Cristina Colarossi
Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, 95029 Viagrande, Italy
Lorenzo Colarossi
Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, 95029 Viagrande, Italy
Elena Tirrò
Center of Experimental Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U. Policlinico “G. Rodolico—San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy
Paolo Vigneri
Center of Experimental Oncology and Hematology, A.O.U. Policlinico “G. Rodolico—San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy
Pietro Valerio Foti
Radiology I Unit, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Broggi
Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults and usually has a very poor prognosis. Histologically, UMs have been classified in epithelioid cell type, spindle cell type, and mixed cell type. Balloon cells are large pale cells that contain small, hyperchromatic, central nuclei with vesiculated, clear, and lipid-rich cytoplasm. A balloon cell morphology is infrequently observed in naevi and even less frequently in malignant melanomas of the skin, conjunctiva, ciliary body and choroid. In this regard, UMs that exhibit balloon cell features are generally those previously treated with proton beam irradiation and then enucleated, rather than those that directly underwent primary surgery. To the best of our knowledge, very few cases of primary UM showing extensive balloon cell morphology have been reported in scientific literature to date. We herein present an unusual case of primary UM with diffuse balloon cell changes in a 69-year-old woman.
