Choroidal vitiligo masquerading as large choroidal nevus: a report of four cases.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 4 patients with choroidal vitiligo masquerading as large choroidal nevus.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Observational case series of 4 patients.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Clinical features.


RESULTS
Four patients referred with the diagnosis of large choroidal nevus were found to have unilateral (n = 1) or bilateral (n = 3) extensive patchy choroidal depigmentation classified as choroidal vitiligo. There was no evidence of choroidal nevus, and the pigmented "lesion" proved to be normal choroidal pigment surrounded by a region of pigment absence (vitiligo). There was no evidence of ocular inflammation or related retinal or retinal pigment epithelial changes. The choroidal vitiligo was clinically flat and measured 12 to 24 mm diameter, involving the post-equatorial fundus in all cases. There were no related anterior segment abnormalities. Cutaneous vitiligo was present in all cases. There was no documented progression of the choroidal or cutaneous vitiligo over a maximum 2-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Choroidal vitiligo is an idiopathic benign process that can involve large segments of the posterior choroid, leaving only patches of residual choroidal pigment, simulating, in reverse, a large choroidal nevus.


BACKGROUND
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Shields
Carol L
CL
Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. carol.shields@shieldsoncology.com
Ramasubramanian
Aparna
A
Kunz
W Benjamin
WB
Aggarwal
Ekta
E
Shields
Jerry A
JA
D000368:Aged; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis*