[Clinical and histopathological studies of melanocytoma of the optic disc]

To examine the clinical features that may be useful in determining the malignant transformation of a melanocytoma of the optic disc.

The clinical documentation of 10 cases, including visual acuity, visual field, fundus findings and fluorescein angiogram were analyzed retrospectively. Three of them undergone histopathologic examinations.

A benign melanocytoma may have some degree of decreased visual acuity, progressive nerve fiber bundle defect, certain amount of pigment dispersion into the vitreous, slight macular exudation and extension of the tumor tissue into the peripapillary area of the retina.

The progression of the associated clinical symptoms and signs appears to be not necessarily indicative of a malignant transformation of the benign disease unless they are associated with rapid enlargement of the tumor mass as well as marked pigmentary changes of the tumor surface.