Metastatic Malignant Melanoma to the Retina

Introduction  Metastases of a tumor directly to the retina is extremely rare. A total of 10 cases of all kinds have been reported in the literature to date. Of these, 5 were carcinoma,^1-5 1 sarcoma,⁶ and 4 melanoma.^7-10In the case reported by Liddicoat et al., the diagnosis was made clinically and confirmed by pathologic study at autopsy. All the patients reported up to this time have died of widespread metastases.The case which I shall describe is that of a patient having metastasis of malignant melanoma to the retina, clinically diagnosed as metastatic melanoma to the choroid, who has survived 5 years after enucleation.

Report of Case  A 45-year-old white man had a pigmented tumor removed from his back in early 1954 which was diagnosed as a malignant melanoma. Two skin metastases were removed in the next year from the left side and the right thigh.