Features of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma Metastatic to the Retina and Vitreous

Background/Aims: To report a case of cutaneous malignant melanoma with cerebral metastasis found to have vitreoretinal metastasis upon referral for neovascular glaucoma. Methods: The clinical history and ocular examination findings, including histologic, cytologic, genetic, and immunohistochemical features of the vitreoretinal metastatic tumor, were reviewed. Additionally, the histologic and immunohistochemical features of the primary skin tumor and brain metastasis were also assessed. Results: A 62-year-old woman with cutaneous malignant melanoma metastatic to the right frontal lobe (BRAF V600E negative) was evaluated for blurred vision in the right eye. Neovascular glaucoma, iritis, and posterior synechiae with no view of the retina or vitreous were evident on examination. Vitreoretinal biopsy and enucleation specimen both showed widespread neoplastic involvement of the retina and residual vitreous strands after vitrectomy. Choroid, trabeculum, and other intraocular structures were devoid of tumor burden. Diagnosis of cutaReceived: May 22, 2015 Accepted after revision: August 6, 2015 Published online: September 22, 2015 Ann E. Barker-Griffith, MD, FRCSC Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology State University of New York, Upstate Medical University 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210 (USA) E-Mail barkerga @ upstate.edu © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 2296–4681/15/0022–0080$39.50/0