title: Localized conjunctival argyrosis: a late sequela of strabismus surgery.
abstract: We describe a case of focal argyrosis of the conjunctiva clinically simulating a melanoma. An 82-year-old woman was referred for an asymptomatic pigmented conjunctival lesion. Her only significant past ocular history was strabismus surgery 76 years earlier. Biopsy of the conjunctiva and lateral rectus muscle revealed the discoloration was pigment granules. Energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis revealed the pigmentation to be silver deposits. The patient had strabismus surgery probably using a silver clip. Argyrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal pigmented conjunctival lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX 78236-5300, USA. David.Holck@59MDW.WHMC.AF.MIL
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Holck
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Klintworth
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Foulks
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Manning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001129:Argyria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011859:Radiography; D012834:Silver; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D012834:Silver