Ciliary body malignant melanoma: A dilemma on staging

Abstract

Abstract Choroidal melanomas are the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults. They tend to be more malignant; because of their location hidden behind the iris they can not be detected until they become larger. Therapeutic strategy is related by size, extension, number and location of tumor and growth patterns. High frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) gives high resolution, cross-sectional images of the anterior segment lesions. Postequatorial lesions and intracranial extension of the melanomas are scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report a case of bilobed tumor with confusing appereance in preoperative imaging studies and macroscopy following enucleation. MRI is the perfect imaging method to reveal extension and size of the tumor in the posterior chamber. Combined use of UBM and MRI provides appropriate staging of ocular melanomas.

Keywords

• Melanoma/diagnosis
• Ultrasound
• Cliary body/pathology
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Microscopy acoustic
• Neoplasm staging