Malignant melanoma of the choroid in a husband and wife

A 52-year-old man was diagnosed as having a large malignant melanoma of the choroid in the right eye. Six years later his 58-year-old wife of almost 40 years was diagnosed as having a large malignant melanoma of the choroid in her left eye. In both patients the diagnosis was confirmed histologically following enucleation. Electron microscopy failed to reveal evidence of viral particles within the tumours. The implications of this unusual occurrence are discussed.