[Melanoma of the iris with recurrent hyphema--course over 32 years]

The differential diagnosis of melanocytic iris tumours is very difficult. Signs of malignancy such as pupil distortion, ectropium uveae, secondary cataract and secondary glaucoma can also occur with benign iris nevi. However, spontaneous hyphemata occur in 6.9% to 13% of melanomas, while anterior chamber hemorrhages are extremely rare with nevi.

A 69 year old man with a pigmented iris tumor of the right eye strictly refused surgical treatment. Therefore the tumor was followed clinically over 32 years. Over this period the tumor showed a very slow increase in size. Twenty-seven years after the initial presentation for the first time a spontaneous anterior chamber hemorrhage occurred. In the following period, the patient experienced recurrent hyphemata at last approximately every two months. An excisional biopsy consisting of a sector-iridectomy and localized excision of Descemet's membrane was performed. Histologically, the tumor was classified as a melanoma of the iris.

A careful documentation cannot be overemphasized in the follow up of patients with pigmented iris lesions. In case of spontaneous hyphema histological evaluation is required even in the absence of evident tumor growth.