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Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Melanocytoma of the Iris and Ciliary Body

Melanocytoma of the Iris and Ciliary Body

Jacob A. Evans, BS; Thomas J.E. Clark, MD; Nasreen A. Syed, MD; Wallace L.M. Alward, MD; H. Culver Boldt, MD
March 3, 2016

Initial Presentation

Chief Complaint: 

Pigmented iris lesion of the left eye

History of Present Illness: 

A 14-year-old male was referred for evaluation of a pigmented iris lesion of the left eye that was noticed on routine eye exam approximately two years prior. The lesion has reportedly not grown or changed in appearance since initial discovery. He denies vision changes, ocular pain, flashes, floaters, and photophobia. He denies sensation of ocular pressure and headaches.

Past Ocular History:  

  • No spectacles or contact lenses
  • No ocular medications
  • No prior ocular surgery
  • Minor, non-penetrating ocular trauma to the left eye at age 4

Past Medical History:  

  • Unremarkable
  • No history of cancer

Medications:  

  • None

Allergies:

  • None

Family History:

  • Maternal grandfather with bladder cancer

Social History:  

  • Student
  • Denies tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use

Review of Systems:  

  • Negative (including: weight loss, fevers, chills, and night sweats)

Examination

Visual Acuity:

  • Right eye (OD) distance without correction: 20/20
  • Left eye (OS) distance without correction: 20/40
    • OS distance with pinhole: 20/25

Intraocular Pressure (IOP): 

  • OD: 12 mm Hg
  • OS: 13 mm Hg

Pupil examination:   

  • 4 mm in dark → 2 mm in light; brisk reaction to light with no relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) OD and OS

Confrontation visual fields:  

  • Full to finger counting OD and OS

Ocular Alignment and Motility:  

  • Orthotropic with full motility OD and OS

Slit-lamp examination:

  • OD
    • Normal
  • OS
    • Lids/Lashes:  Normal
    • Conjunctiva:  Clear and quiet; possible "sentinel vessel" inferotemporally
    • Cornea:  Clear and compact
    • Anterior chamber:  Deep and quiet; no cell
    • Iris:  Inferonasal, elevated, dark brown, pigmented lesion in the peripheral iris from 6:30 to 8:00 measuring 4 mm circumferentially and 1.5 mm radially; the surface of the lesion is mildly irregular without surface vessels; there is no neovascularization of the iris (NVI); the iris central to the lesion is pushed into folds; the pupil is round
    • Lens:  Clear
    • Vitreous:  Normal; no cell
Figure 1:  Appearance of the left eye on presentation.  Top left:  On slit lamp examination, a dark brown, pigmented lesion in the peripheral iris is seen extending from 6:30 to 8:00; there is no neovascularization of the iris and the pupil is round.  Top right:  On higher power magnification, the lesion appears elevated and the surface of the lesion is mildly irregular without surface vessels and the iris central to the lesion is pushed into folds.  Bottom left:  The slit beam demonstrates the elevation of the lesion relative to the surrounding iris.  Bottom right:  A slightly enlarged vessel, which may represent a "sentinel vessel", is seen inferonasally.
Top left:  On slit lamp examination, a dark brown, pigmented lesion in the peripheral iris is seen extending from 6:30 to 8:00; there is no neovascularization of the iris and the pupil is round. Top right:  On higher power magnification, the lesion appears elevated and the surface of the lesion is mildly irregular without surface vessels and the iris central to the lesion is pushed into folds.
Bottom left:  The slit beam demonstrates the elevation of the lesion relative to the surrounding iris. Bottom right:  A slightly enlarged vessel, which may represent a "sentinel vessel", is seen inferonasally.

Video 1:  Slit lamp examination demonstrating findings described above.

Gonioscopy:

  • OD:  Iris processes temporally
  • OS:  Scattered iris processes; elevated, dark brown lesion from 7 to 8 o'clock without involvement of the surrounding trabecular meshwork

Figure 2:  On gonioscopy, an elevated, dark brown lesion is seen extending from 7 to 8 o'clock without spread into the surrounding trabecular meshwork.

Figure 2:  On gonioscopy, an elevated, dark brown lesion is seen extending from 7 to 8 o'clock without spread into the surrounding trabecular meshwork.

Video 2:  Gonioscopy examination demonstrating findings described above.

Fundus examination:

  • OD
    • Normal
  • OS
    • Vitreous:  Normal; no cell
    • Disc:  Normal
    • Cup/Disc Ratio:  0.1
    • Macula:  Normal
    • Vessels:  Normal
    • Periphery:  No masses or hyperpigmentation of the choroid; no pars plana mass visualized on scleral depressed examination

Ancillary Studies

High-frequency anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy of the lesion:

  • Shape:  Oval
  • Height:  4.5 mm  
  • Base:  4.9 mm  
  • Location:  8:00 iris/ciliary body  
  • Reflectivity:  Low  
  • Structure:  Regular  
  • Vascularity:  None  
  • Episclera:  Intact 

 

Figure 3:  Ultrasonography studies.  Left:  High-frequency anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a 4.5 (apical height) x 4.9 x 5.3 mm (basal dimensions), oval-shaped, solid lesion of the ciliary body and iris; incidentally, a very small, echolucent iris pigment epithelial cyst is seen.  Right:  Diagnostic A-scan ultrasonography reveals low internal reflectivity without prominent vascularity.
Left:  High-frequency anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a 4.5 (apical height) x 4.9 x 5.3 mm (basal dimensions), oval-shaped, solid lesion of the ciliary body and iris; incidentally, a very small, echolucent iris pigment epithelial cyst is seen. Right:  Diagnostic A-scan ultrasonography reveals low internal reflectivity without prominent vascularity.

 

Infrared iris transillumination:

  • An oval-shaped area of blocked transillumination is visualized at the inferonasal corneoscleral limbus in the region of the mass.

 Figure 4:  Photo of infrared iris transillumination revealing an oval-shaped area of blockage at the inferonasal corneoscleral limbus.

Figure 4:  Photo of infrared iris transillumination revealing an oval-shaped area of blockage at the inferonasal corneoscleral limbus.

Video 3:  Video of infrared iris transillumination demonstrating same limbal intraocular mass as seen in Figure 4.

Differential Diagnosis:  

  • Malignant neoplasms
    • Melanoma
    • Adenocarcinoma
    • Medulloepithelioma (diktyoma)
    • Metastasis
  • Benign neoplasms
    • Traumatic hyperplasia of ciliary pigment epithelium
    • Pigment epithelial cyst
    • Pigment epithelial adenoma
    • Nevus
    • Melanocytoma
    • Juvenile xanthogranuloma
    • Leiomyoma
    • Inflammatory nodule (e.g. Koeppe, Busacca, Berlin)
    • Foreign body
  • Post-traumatic                 
    • Foreign body
    • Iridodialysis

Ophthalmic Pathology:

A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the lesion was performed under general anesthesia.

Histologic examination demonstrated fragments consisting of heavily pigmented cells, with the pigment obscuring all cellular details. Melanin bleach hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain revealed that the tissue fragment was composed of large, polygonal cells with bland nuclei and abundant cytoplasm consistent with the diagnosis of melanocytoma.

Figure 5:  Top left:  Low power photomicrograph of the FNAB demonstrates a heavily pigmented tissue fragment.  (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, original magnification=100x); Bottom left:  High power photomicrograph of biopsy tissue.  The pigment obscures cellular detail (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, original magnification=300x);   Top right:  Low power photomicrograph of biopsy following application of melanin bleach permits visualization of cellular morphology (Melanin bleach H&E stain, original magnification=100x);  Bottom right:  High power photomicrograph of biopsy tissue following application of melanin bleach reveals the presence of polygonal cells with bland, oval to round nuclei with indistinct nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm consistent with the diagnosis of melanocytoma (Melanin bleach H&E stain, original magnification=300x).
Top left:  Low power photomicrograph of the FNAB demonstrates a heavily pigmented tissue fragment.  (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, original magnification=100x) Top right:  Low power photomicrograph of biopsy following application of melanin bleach permits visualization of cellular morphology (Melanin bleach H&E stain, original magnification=100x)
Bottom left:  High power photomicrograph of biopsy tissue.  The pigment obscures cellular detail (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, original magnification=300x) Bottom right:  High power photomicrograph of biopsy tissue following application of melanin bleach reveals the presence of polygonal cells with bland, oval to round nuclei with indistinct nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm consistent with the diagnosis of melanocytoma (Melanin bleach H&E stain, original magnification=300x)

 

DIAGNOSIS:  Melanocytoma of the iris and ciliary body

CLINICAL COURSE:

Post-biopsy, management options were discussed with the patient and his family.  Surgical excisional biopsy was discussed as an option along with the potential complications, such as cataract and retinal detachment.  The low risk of future malignant transformation was discussed. The alternative of observation was also discussed.  Ultimately, the patient and his family elected for serial observation with photography and ultrasound biomicroscopy over surgical intervention.

DISCUSSION:

Melanocytoma is a type of uveal tract nevus, also known as "magnocellular nevus," characterized clinically by its jet-black coloration and histologically by its heavily pigmented, large, polygonal, bland cells.[1] Melanocytomas most often present as asymptomatic pigmented lesions, although an isolated case of painful melanocytoma involving the ciliary body and iris root has been reported. [2] Melanocytomas can occur anywhere along the uveal tract, but are most commonly found in the juxtapapillary region of the choroid where they appear as elevated, pigmented masses and are sometimes mistaken for a typical choroidal nevus or choroidal melanoma. Melanocytomas arising in the ciliary body are usually detected late given their anterior location and are most commonly confused with ciliary body melanomas.  They may be detected on dilated fundus examination, gonioscopy, or on slit lamp examination if an anterior growth phase results in extension into the anterior chamber angle. In rare cases, a ciliary body melanocytoma can extend through a scleral emissary canal and present as a pigmented, subconjunctival mass. 

Figure 6

Figure 6a: Melanocytoma

Figure 6a: Melanocytoma

Figure 6b: Melanocytoma with associated choroidal nevus

Figure 6b: Melanocytoma with associated choroidal nevus

Melanocytomas of the iris present as pigmented lesions with "mossy" or irregular surface that may involve the anterior chamber angle. [3] In a published case series of 47 iris melanocytomas, presenting symptoms included: patient discovery of a pigmented spot (15%), blurry vision (11%), and conjunctival hyperemia (4%). [3] Seventy percent of cases were asymptomatic. [3] In this same series, 85% of iris melanocytomas were nodular and 15% diffuse; they were typically located in the inferior (45%) or temporal (38%) quadrants. [3] Iris heterochromia was seen in 13% of cases, a sentinel vessel in 15%, satellite tumors with angle involvement (mean of 8 clock hours) in 26%, and ectropion uvea in 6%. [3] Less than 5% of patients presented with increased intraocular pressure (IOP). [3] The differential diagnosis of iris melanocytoma is listed below in Table 1. Notably, iris melanocytomas may mimic the Cogan-Reese variant of iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome due to the potential for a rise in IOP in the presence of iris abnormalities. [4,5] The IOP rise associated with iris melanocytoma is presumably caused by clogging of the trabecular meshwork by liberated melanocytoma cells and/or pigment-laden macrophages. [3,5]

High frequency anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy is a useful modality in the workup of a pigmented iris lesion, as benign cystic lesions (e.g. iris pigment epithelial cysts) are readily differentiated from more worrisome solid mass lesions. Ultrasound biomicroscopy is also helpful in delineating the degree of posterior extension (i.e. the presence of ciliary body and/or choroidal involvement) of the lesion in question. Infrared iris transillumination is an additional imaging modality that can be utilized to determine the size and extent of a solid mass lesion. B-scan ultrasonography is helpful with lesions demonstrating posterior extension. On ultrasound biomicroscopy, melanocytomas are typically seen as highly-reflective nodular masses with a smooth or irregular surface and sharp, well-defined edges. [6] However, these characteristics are not pathognomonic for melanocytoma.

A physician may elect to observe a pigmented iris mass for signs of growth if the size, consistency, margins, and imaging are not overtly concerning for malignancy. However, when diagnostic uncertainty remains following clinical examination and imaging, tissue diagnosis can prove definitive. [1,7] While many pigmented iris lesions are able to be carefully and closely observed, biopsy is typically pursued when growth is documented, when noninvasive diagnostic techniques fail to establish the diagnosis, or when further observation poses danger to the patient, the eye, or the visual acuity. [3,8] Fine needle aspiration is the least invasive and most commonly utilized method of tissue procurement. The utility of FNAB has been debated with some authors strongly advocating its use and others criticizing the technique due to potentially false reassurance. [8,9,10] Complications from iris biopsy such as persistent hyphema, hypotony, lens damage, or endophthalmitis are rare with reported rates of less than 1%. [11] The risk for tumor seeding with transcorneal FNAB is largely theoretical and considered to be extremely low. [12] Histologically, melanocytomas are composed of large, plump, polygonal cells, with an abundance of cytoplasmic pigmentation that often obscures all cellular details and requires a melanin bleach stain in order to adequately assess with light microscopy. [1]

The management of iris and ciliary body melanocytomas is based upon the size of the lesion, associated complications (e.g. increased IOP, angle closure), and risk of possible malignant transformation. Treatment options most commonly include serial surveillance with routine photography and ultrasonography versus surgical excision (i.e. iridocyclectomy). [3,7] In the case of very large lesions, iridocyclectomy may be favored as further growth may render the lesion too large to be readily excised. Other indications for surgical intervention include progressive angle closure resulting in difficult to manage ocular hypertension/glaucoma and physical subluxation of the lens. [3,5] When extrascleral extension is present, en bloc excision with simultaneous full-thickness corneoscleral resection and patch graft placement has been shown, in a small case series, to be as effective as enucleation in terms of recurrence rates. [11]

Video 4. Iridocyclectomy, removal of a mass suspected of being malignant melanoma on the iris and ciliary body

The natural history of iris melanocytomas is variable. Spontaneous necrosis with resultant pigment dispersion and secondary glaucoma is rare, but has been reported. [13-20] A large case series of 47 eyes, revealed increased IOP in 0% of affected eyes at 1 year, 11% at 5 and 10 years, and 55% at 15 years. [3] This same series reported documented growth rates of 23% at 5 years, 48% at 10 years, and 74% at 15 years. [3] Transformation into a malignant melanoma is a rare event, with a reported occurrence rate of 2% for melanocytomas of the optic disc and rates even lower for iris melanocytomas. [3,21,23,24] However, given the life-threatening nature of malignant transformation, routine surveillance of all patients with a diagnosed melanocytoma is recommended. [21] In the case that malignant transformation is suspected, as evidenced by aggressive growth and/or change in appearance, the lesion should be treated as such with aggressive measures (e.g. surgical excision, enucleation, brachytherapy, or proton beam radiotherapy).

Melanocytoma of the iris and ciliary body is a rare, yet important diagnosis in the differential of a pigmented iris lesion.  Melanocytomas are benign lesions, but do have the rare potential for malignant transformation. The diagnosis may be possible with clinical examination and imaging studies, but commonly requires histopathologic confirmation to rule out more worrisome diagnoses (e.g. melanoma or metastatic disease). Melanocytomas of the iris and ciliary body can be managed with serial observation, photography and ultrasonography, or surgically with iridocyclectomy or en bloc excision.  Suspicion for malignant transformation warrants prompt and aggressive treatment.

Summary: Iris and Ciliary Body Melanocytoma

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Rare (incidence < 1%) [22,25]
  • 64% female, 36% male [3]
  • 87% Caucasian, 9% African-American, 2% Asian, 2% Hispanic [3]
  • Mean age of 37 years (range 3-67) [3]

 

SIGNS

  • Pigmented lesion involving the iris, ciliary body and/or sclera [1]
  • Involvement of the anterior chamber angle (26%) [3]
  • Iris heterochromia (13%) [3]
  • Sentinel vessel (15%) [3]
  • Ectropion uvea (6%) [3]
  • Elevated IOP (4-12%) [3,5]

SYMPTOMS

  • Most are asymptomatic (70%) [3]
  • Pigmented spot (15%) [3]
  • Blurred vision (11%) [3]
  • Conjunctival hyperemia (4%) [3]
  • Pain has been reported in one case [2]

 

TREATMENT

  • Observation with serial photography and ultrasonography [3]
  • Iridocyclectomy [3,7]
  • En bloc excision with simultaneous full-thickness corneoscleral resection and patch graft [11]
  • Enucleation [3]

 

Table 1: Differential diagnosis for an iris mass

  • Malignant neoplasms
    •  Melanoma
    •  Adenocarcinoma
    •  Medulloepithelioma (diktyoma)
    •  Metastasis
  • Benign neoplasms
  • Traumatic hyperplasia of ciliary pigment epithelium
  • Pigment epithelial cyst
  • Pigment epithelial adenoma
    • Nevus
  • Melanocytoma
  • Juvenile xanthogranuloma
    • Leiomyoma
    • Inflammatory nodule (e.g. Koeppe, Busacca, Berlin)
  • Post-traumatic                 
    • Foreign body
    • Iridodialysis
References
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  2. Lee CS, Kim do K, Lee SC. A case of ciliary body melanocytoma presenting as a painful iris mass. Korean journal of ophthalmology : KJO 2010;24:44-6.
  3. Demirci H, Mashayekhi A, Shields CL, Eagle RC Jr, Shields JA. Iris melanocytoma: Clinical features and natural course in 47 cases. Am J Ophthalmol 2005;139:468-75.
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  18. Kiratli H, Bilgic S, Gedik S. Late normalization of melanocytomalytic intraocular pressure elevation following excision of iris melanocytoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2001;239:712–715.
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Suggested citation format:

Evans JA, Clark TJE, Syed NA, Alward WLM, Boldt HC. Melanocytoma of the Iris and Ciliary Body. EyeRounds.org. posted March 3, 2016; Available from: http://www.EyeRounds.org/cases/232-melanocytoma.htm


last updated: 10/03/2016. Updated 03/16/2016

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