Ciliary Body Seeding after Pars Plana Transvitreal Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Choroidal Melanoma

Abstract

Purpose: To report ciliary body seeding 20 years after pars plana transvitreal fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of choroidal melanoma. Case Report: 67-year-old man with choroidal melanoma in left eye was previously managed with pars plana FNAB using a 25-gauge needle followed by plaque radiotherapy. Twenty years later, choroidal melanoma was regressed but there was a small flat focus of scleral pigment 3.0mm from the limbus at the FNAB site. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a contiguous ciliary body mass measuring 3.1mm in thickness. Tumor seeding in the anterior chamber angle was noted inferiorly. These findings suggested melanoma recurrence along the needle tract. Treatment was performed with Iodine-125 radioactive plaque covering entire anterior segment and ciliary body recurrence. The tumor regressed to 2.2mm over one year. Conclusion: Pars plana transvitreal FNAB of choroidal melanoma resulted in needle tract seeding in ciliary body and episcleral region 20 years later.

Keywords

• choroid
• ciliary body
• extraocular extension
• fine-needle aspiration biopsy
• melanoma
• seeding