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Metastatic ciliary body carcinoid tumor.
D S Bardenstein1, D H Char, C Jones
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|November 1, 1990
Summary
A carcinoid metastasis mimicked malignant melanoma in a patient with systemic carcinoid. Surgical excision revealed a carcinoid tumor with overlying retinal pigment epithelium hyperplasia, explaining the pigmented appearance.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Systemic carcinoid tumors can rarely metastasize to the eye.
- Ocular metastases can present with varied clinical features, sometimes mimicking primary ocular malignancies.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old man with systemic carcinoid presented with decreased vision and a darkly pigmented cilio-choroidal mass.
- Initial investigations including ultrasonography and fluorescein angiography suggested malignant melanoma.
Findings:
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy confirmed carcinoid metastasis.
- Histopathology revealed a carcinoid neoplasm with marked hyperplasia of the retinal pigment epithelium, causing the pigmented appearance.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering metastatic carcinoid in the differential diagnosis of pigmented choroidal lesions.
- Accurate diagnosis through biopsy is crucial for appropriate management, especially when the lesion mimics primary ocular cancer.