Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Metastatic to the Choroid Diagnosed by Biopsy of an Extrascleral Nodule.

PURPOSE/

BACKGROUND

To report a patient with orbital extension of a choroidal metastasis produced by a pulmonary adenocarcinoma which was diagnosed by biopsy of the extrascleral nodule.

METHODS

Clinical history and imaging studies (including fundus photography, autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, B-scan, and orbital MRI) were reviewed along with histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies.

RESULTS

A 60-year-old woman presented with decreased vision in the right eye. Fundus examination revealed a leopard-spotted choroidal lesion and associated serous retinal detachment. Imaging disclosed an enhancing orbital lesion abutting the sclera near the choroidal mass, which had spread outside of the eye. Histopathology revealed lumen-forming cells elaborating mucin. The cells were immunohistochemically positive for epithelial membrane antigen, thyroid transcription factor 1, and cytokeratin 7 and negative for cytokeratin 20. This was consistent with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Widespread metastases were subsequently found.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first detailed case report of a successful biopsy of the orbital extension of an essentially posterior intraocular tumor. Such a maneuver permits a much more generous tissue sample than a needle biopsy. In the current case, a large tissue sample provided the basis for complete immunohistochemical evaluation, leading to the diagnosis of an intraocular metastatic mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of lung origin.