Tapioca Melanoma of the Iris: a Case Report
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Published:2019-07-11
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ISSN:2008-322X
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Container-title:Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research
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language:
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Short-container-title:JOVR
Author:
Karimi Saeed,Pahlevani Pouyan
Abstract
Purpose: To report an extremely rare case of tapioca melanoma of the iris in an Iranian patient.
Case Report: A 50-year-old male patient presented with ocular pain and redness in the right eye for two weeks. The visual acuity was 7/10 and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was 30 mmHg. A lobulated amelanotic vascularized and nodular (tapioca-like) iris mass with a 180o extent was seen in the right eye. Incisional biopsy of the mass revealed atypical mixed type (epithelioid and spindle cell) melanoma. Brachytherapy with the ruthenium-106 plaque resulted in complete regression of the tumor.
Conclusion: Tapioca melanoma of the iris should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with nodular vascularized amelanotic iris mass and elevated IOP. Brachytherapy with ruthenium-106 seems to be an effective treatment for tapioca melanoma of the iris.