Pleomorphic adenocarcinoma of ciliary epithelium simulating an epibulbar tumor

Abstract

A 72-year-old woman had epibulbar nodules and a blind eye following trauma in childhood. Histologic examination disclosed a pleomorphic adenocarcinoma of ciliary epithelium with invasion of the epibulbar region, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and optic nerve. The diagnosis was confirmed by histochemical stains and electron microscopy. The pigmented and nonpigmented neoplastic cells of the ciliary epithelium had a patchy basement membrane around the cell membrane and produced hyaluronic acid in the stroma.