title: Choroidal melanoma metastasizing to maxillofacial bones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanomas are malignant neoplasm of melanocytic origin, commonly seen on skin and various mucous membranes. Melanomas are the commonest intraocular malignant tumour in the adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 50-year-old female presented with complains of painless progressive swelling in right cheek region of two months duration. Examination revealed a 6 x 4 cm bony hard swelling in right zygomatic region near and below lateral canthus of right eye with loss of vision. Investigations revealed it to be a choroidal melanoma metastasizing to the zygomatic bone. Patient was successfully treated by surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Choroidal melanoma, which commonly metastasizes to liver and lungs, never involves the lymph nodes and metastasis to facial bones is rare. Here we report a case of choroidal melanoma metastasizing to maxillofacial bones.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. manojpandey@vsnl.com
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Om
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Anitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Nileena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: Krishnankutty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017233:Orbit Evisceration; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015050:Zygoma / Q000473:pathology*