Retinal and pigment epithelial alterations over choroidal malignant melanomas

Although in some cases orange or yellow-orange pigment overlying a malignant choroidal melanoma may represent lipofuscin, a case is presented which showed extensive yellow-orange coloration overlying a malignant choroidal melanoma without any demonstrable lipofuscin on histopathologic and electron microscopic analysis. Our findings suggest that other mechanisms, such as serous fluid or lipid deposition within retinal cystoid spaces or diffuse drusen, can clinically stimulate the yellow-orange pigment associated with lipofuscin.