Unusual presentation of a choroidal melanoma

Abstract

A 49-year-old gentleman presented with a 1-day history of painful deterioration of vision in his right eye. He was lifting heavy weights just before this visual loss. On examination, his vision was perception of light in that eye, with a medically uncontrollable high intraocular pressure and hyphaema almost completely filling his anterior chamber. An ultrasound performed suggested a working diagnosis of a Valsalva related 'eight ball' bleed. After an anterior chamber washout, he had another episode of bleeding three days later. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed and the sample obtained was sent off to the laboratory, revealing a choroidal melanoma. Following enucleation, the histology confirmed a large necrotic spindle cell melanoma, with a haemorrhagic background. Fortunately, no liver metastasis was found. Since his diagnosis 3 years ago, he continues to be followed up in an artificial eye clinic and has regular liver scans under the care of his oncologist.

Keywords: anterior chamber; eye; hyphemas.

Figure 1

Ultrasound picture of the right eye at presentation. Arrow shows the vitreous haemorrhage.