title: Clinical and immunocytochemical findings in a case of melanoma-associated retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an unusual case of melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational case report and experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 61-year-old man with a history of cutaneous melanoma, acquired bilateral central scotomas, and night blindness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial full-field electroretinography (ERG) and Goldmann perimetry were performed. Serum was screened for cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) antibodies by Western blotting. Sections of human and rat retina were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy to determine whether retinal cells were reactive with this patient's serum. A metastatic workup was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electroretinography, Goldmann visual field testing, and immunocytochemistry were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were as follows: (1) The ERG showed a profound loss of the b-wave amplitude and a "negative" b-wave characteristic of congenital stationary night blindness; (2) a central scotoma and peripheral constriction were identified on Goldmann visual field tests; (3) as in other patients with MAR, bipolar cells in human and rat retinas were immunolabeled with this patient's serum; and (4) a previously unsuspected focus of metastatic melanoma was discovered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of this condition may help to identify an occult focus of metastatic melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. mpotter@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Thirkill
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Milam
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004596:Electroretinography; D005136:Eye Proteins; D051597:Hippocalcin; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000473:pathology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051603:Recoverin; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012607:Scotoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C496731:RCVRN protein, human; D051603:Recoverin; D051597:Hippocalcin