[Malignant melanoma of the ciliary body. A diagnostic problem]

Ciliary body melanoma is often diagnosed too late and therefore has a poor prognosis. The circular infiltration of the iridocorneal angle by malignant cells can lead to secondary glaucoma, often misdiagnosed as pigmentary glaucoma.

In a 40-year-old patient the diagnosis "atypical pigmentary glaucoma" was made due to elevated intraocular pressure and pigmentation of the iridocorneal angle; no changes were present in the iris. In a second case pronounced pigmentation of the chamber angle and secondary glaucoma led to the clinical diagnosis of a ring melanoma and resulted in enucleation of the globe.

In the first case, increasing pigmentation of the chamber angle over 4 weeks led to the presumed diagnosis of a ring melanoma. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of a ring melanoma of the ciliary body. In the second case histology revealed retinal detachment with intraocular bleeding without intraocular melanoma. The pigmentation in the lower part of the chamber angle was due to hemosiderosis.

Diagnosis of ciliary body melanomas may be difficult in some cases due to its similarity to other eye diseases. The differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the ciliary body should be considered in cases of unilateral pigmentary glaucoma.