Cavitation in ciliary body melanoma.

PURPOSE: To report a case of a cystic ciliary body melanoma that appeared clinically as a solid mass.

METHODS

A 59-year-old woman underwent an iridocyclectomy for removal of a ciliary body melanoma in the right eye. The tumor was analyzed histopathologically for acid mucopolysaccharide production.

RESULTS

Histopathology identified a ciliary body melanoma with cystic cavities. Contents of the cystic spaces did not stain with alcian blue. Histologic findings suggested exudation, cavitary necrosis, or both rather than acid mucopolysaccharide production as pathogenic factors for cyst formation.

CONCLUSION

Cystic cavities can develop in a solid, malignant tumor and therefore should not be considered signs of a benign lesion.