[Clinically unexpected malignant melanomas of the uvea. 1981-1995, Erlangen Ophthalmopathologic Laboratory/D]

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of unexpected malignant uveal melanoma in the age of ultrasound diagnostics and to highlight the reasons for misdiagnosis.

All eyes were surgically removed and histologic examination was performed between 1981 and 1995. The eyes were investigated for the incidence of uveal melanoma, and the history of the unexpected malignant melanoma of the uvea or ciliary body highlighted.

225 (18.7%) eyes with malignant melanoma out of 2583 enucleated eyes were found. Eight (3.6%) of 225 were clinically unexpected. The clinical misdiagnoses were secondary angle closure or open angle glaucoma (6), retinal detachment (5), iritis (1), scleritis (1), cataract (4) and an intraocular mass that was believed to be a metastasis of a colon carcinoma. Seven of eight eyes were blind, and one eye had light perception only. The longest follow up before enucleation was 13 years. On three eyes diagnostic ultrasound was reportedly performed without specific diagnosis of uveal melanoma. Surgery was performed on four eyes for reasons of uncontrollable intraocular pressure or retinal detachment up to five years before enucleation. Histologic diagnoses were 3 epitheloid-type, 2 spindel-type and 3 necrotic melanoma of the uvea. Four eyes showed scleral invasion by tumor cells and one eye an invasion into the episcleral space.

Even today the rate of unexpected uveal melanoma, according to our study is 3.6%. Therefore, all blind eyes without visualisation of the posterior pole should be examined with ultrasound in order to diagnose an uveal melanoma prior to enucleation.