Cryopexy of a choroidal melanoma

Transconjunctival cryopexy was applied to a malignant melanoma of the ciliary body and choroid of a 46-year-old white man. The tumor immediately became gray-white and pigment cells were liberated in the anterior chamber. Subsequently, an enucleation was performed which showed a localized area of cryodestruction of the melanoma which was lined by macrophages. The significance of this finding in implications for the use of cryopexy in the management of melanomas are discussed.