Iris nodules in von Recklinghausen's Neurofibromatosis. Electron microscopic confirmation of their melanocytic origin.
A 75-year-old man had generalized neurofibromatosis (NFT) with bilateral iris nodules and a mature cataract with elevated intraocular pressure in his left eye. At the time of intracapsular cataract extraction, a sector iridectomy was performed. Electron microscopic studies of the iris nodules within the iridectomy specimen unequivocally established that the spindle-shaped cells within the nodules were of melanocytic origin. We believe that the iris nodules in NFT represent melanocytic hamartomas.
D000368:Aged; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000648:ultrastructure*