Simultaneous bilateral diffuse melanocytic uveal hyperplasia.
A 52-year-old woman noted loss of vision in August 1984. Clinical examination disclosed iris cysts and ciliary body cysts, macular edema, and uveal nevi. Cataract extraction and pressure-lowering operations were required in both eyes because of a tumor-induced angle-closure glaucoma. Vision, however, progressively decreased to light perception in each eye. Both eyes were finally enucleated because a malignant melanoma could not be ruled out, though iris tissue obtained in 1985 suggested a nevuslike process. Histologic study indicated a bilateral uveal hyperplasia. Results of light and electron microscopy, immunologic studies, and suspension cell culture suggested that the uveal hyperplasia was more likely a melanoma of low malignancy than a nevuslike process. We could not detect an extraocular primary tumor and assumed that this condition constituted an oncogenic syndrome.
University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Department of General Ophthalmology, West Germany.
J M
JM
Rohrbach
W
W
Roggendorf
S
S
Thanos
K P
KP
Steuhl
H J
HJ
Thiel
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004596:Electroretinography; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology; D014602:Uvea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology