Malignant melanoma at the site of penetrating ocular trauma

F. el Baba and M. Blumenkranz

We document clinically and histopathologically the development of a uveal melanocytic tumor at the site of penetrating ocular trauma in a 34-year-old man. A metallic intraocular foreign body was extracted via the inferonasal pars plana with an electromagnet in February 1975. At that time no intraocular tumor was noted and the visual acuity returned to 20/20. The patient developed floaters in January 1981, at which time findings from fundus examination and needle biopsy of the lesion suggested the presence of a spindle-cell melanoma. The diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically following enucleation. The possible association between trauma and ocular melanoma is discussed.