Melanoma-associated retinopathy and recurrent exudative retinal detachments in a patient with choroidal melanoma.

PURPOSE: To report a patient who presented with photopsias, night blindness, exudative retinal detachments, and melanoma-associated retinopathy in her right eye 23 years after the left eye was enucleated for a choroidal melanoma.

METHODS

Assessment of fundus findings, fluorescein angiograms, and electroretinograms.

RESULTS

The patient had recurrent exudative detachments of the macula in her right eye and electroretinogram responses consistent with the diagnosis of melanoma-associated retinopathy. The abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was negative, but 13 months later, CT scanning revealed many masses in her liver. Fine-needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report of melanoma-associated retinopathy in a patient with a previous choroidal melanoma.