Non-invasive Diagnosis of Melanocytoma and 1 Case Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report one case of juxtapapillary choroidal melanocytoma diagnosed noninvasive methods. METHODS: A 27 year-old female patient was referred to our hospital due to her rapid growing peripapillary mass which had been detected by routine examinations for LASIK operation for the past 2 years. On fundus exam, a markedly pigmented brown-black colored mass located nasal to the margin of the optic nerve head was observed. Its margin was feathery and its surface showed pigmented granular appearance. On fluorescein angiography, the tumor was hypofluorescent and surrounded by bright stained rim, which seemed to be like `semicircular well-defined comet-tail'. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated that lesion had a high reflectance signal anteriorly and optical shadowing behind. The high signal was continuous with the retinal nerve fiber layer, which was consistent with growth patterns of melanocytoma. CONCLUSIONS: From the experience of a case of peripapillary melanocytoma, we suggest noninvasive diagnostic methods of melanocytoma such as optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography may be very useful in differentiating melanocytoma from choroidal melanocytic lesions. Periodic follow-up to use it clinically is also suggested.