Dr.ANDREA TONGBRAM
Purpose – To report a case of choroidal melanoma presenting as bleeding anterior staphyloma.
Methods – A 35 year old lady presented with painless bleeding from left eye for the past 10 days. The eye was blind for the past 5 years and past records suggested a diagnosis of anterior staphyloma. Ocular examination revealed a partially autoeviscerated eye with profuse bleeding. Emergency evisceration of the left eye was planned. Intraoperatively uveal tissue was found to be firmly adherent to sclera. Intraocular malignancy was suspected and globe was enucleated.
Results – Histopathology showed choroidal melanoma of mixed cell type. Metastatic work up was negative until six months of follow up. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report of a choroidal melanoma presenting as bleeding staphyloma.
Conclusion – Staphylomatous eyes can harbour an intraocular tumor. Spontaneously ruptured staphyloma should raise a doubt of uveal malignancy. These are best managed by enucleation.
Leave a Comment