title: Choroidal melanoma metastatizing to the biliary system: A diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: Metastatic melanoma to the gall bladder is extremely rare and is associated with a very poor prognosis. We report a case of choroidal melanoma metastatizing to the hepatobiliary system, with an unusual presentation. Our patient presenting with obstructive jaundice was misdiagnosed as having carcinoma of the gall-bladder, but the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma to the gallbladder was confirmed by ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration cytology (USG-FNAC). On reviewing the past history, the patient had a history of enucleation for choroidal melanoma. Even though the liver 'is' a common site for metastasis of choroid melanoma, the patient presenting with a suspected gall bladder mass 'is' a rare presentation. Hence, gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of melanoma should be investigated for the presence of gastrointestinal or liver metastases, even if the original primary malignancy was diagnosed years before the patient's presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jagjivanram Hospital, Western Railway, Maratha Mandir Marg, Mumbai Central, Mumbai - 400 008, India.
authors.forename: Samir R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Indranil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Yoganand V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Anjali D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Amrapurkar