J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2014 May;55(5):789-793. 10.3341/jkos.2014.55.5.789.

A Case of Melanocytoma Originating from the Iris

• Lee JA
• Ahn YS
• Cho YK

• KMID: 2218106
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2014.55.5.789

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report a case of melanocytoma originating from the iris observed for the first time in Korea.
CASE SUMMARY
A 53-year-old female with an unexpected iris mass was referred to our clinic. A round, 2.5 mm x 3.5 mm-sized iris mass was found on slit lamp examination in the 12 o'clock area of the patient's left eye. The mass was densely pigmented and had a smooth surface. Gonioscopy showed the mass had reached the peripheral cornea frontward and the lens backward. An excisional biopsy was performed for diagnosis. After the operation, a gonioscopic examination showed an intact ciliary body behind the surgical margin of the iris. A melancytoma of the iris was observed on subsequent histopathological examination. The patient has remained symptom-free with no iris mass recurrence since the operation.
CONCLUSIONS
A few cases of iris melanocytomas have been reported worldwide but not in Korea. We confirmed a case of melanocytoma originating from the iris for the first time in Korea.

Keyword

Iris; Melanocytoma

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Ciliary Body
Cornea
Diagnosis
Female
Gonioscopy
Humans
Iris*
Korea
Middle Aged
Recurrence

Figure

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  Figure 1. Preoperative image of the iris mass (A) A slit lamp exam shows a 2.5 mm ×3.5 mm sized, brownish-black mass occupying 12 o'clock area of the iris. (B) The gonioscopic view of a protruded, convex mass that is contacting the posterior surface of the cornea and the anterior surface of the lens.

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  Figure 2. The postoperative image of the intact ciliary body behind the surgical margin of the iris shown through gonioscopic examination.

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  Figure 3. The histopathologic images of the specimen (A) Abundant melanin pigments obscuring nuclear details in the cytoplasm (×40). (B) Microscopic appearance of the specimen with polyhedral cells heavily pigmented with prominent nucleoli (× 400).

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  Figure 4. (A) A slit lamp examination at postoperative day 1. (B) A slit lamp examination at postoperative 3 month. The Photograph of the resected iris taken 3 months after excisional biopsy shows no recurrence. (Arrow: tinged corneal endothelial lesion by original mass shows no change between the intervals.)

Reference

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