Unilateral Multifocal Choroidal Melanoma with Underlying Isolated Choroidal Melanocytosis

Abstract

Isolated choroidal melanocytosis is a rare condition that appears to be a limited form of ocular melanocytosis. Ocular melanocytosis has been known to be associated with an increased risk of uveal melanoma, and more recently, a similar association has been suggested for isolated choroidal melanocytosis. We describe 3 cases of patients who developed unilateral, multifocal uveal melanoma in the setting of underlying isolated choroidal melanocytosis. All patients developed either two distinct tumors at presentation or a new discrete choroidal melanoma arising from the choroidal melanocytosis over 1 year following treatment of the original tumor by plaque brachytherapy. These cases provide additional evidence of the association between isolated choroidal melanocytosis and uveal melanoma and suggest increased risk of multifocal melanoma in patients with this condition.

A case of choroidal melanocytosis observed by multimodal imaging with laser speckle flowgraphy

“…Melanocytosis consists of spindle cells with widespread parenchymal invasion [ 1 ], while melanocytoma is a focal form which shows polygonal nevus cells [ 4 , 5 ]. Understanding the differential diagnosis and pathophysiology with detailed evaluation of the choroid are of importance in the management of patients, since melanocytosis predisposes to uveal malignant melanoma [ 6 , 7 ].…”