Isolated choroidal melanocytosis: a distinct clinical entity?

Abstract

The choroidal lesions described in this report may be a distinct, limited form of congenital ocular melanocytosis. We refer to these lesions as "isolated choroidal melanocytosis." Lesions of this type may predispose affected patients to choroidal melanoma.

Bilateral Isolated Choroidal Melanocytosis

“…Augsburger et al's cases exhibited unilateral hyperpigmentation less than 3 clock hours in extent with feathered margins and sparing of large choroidal vessels. 1 Katner and Chess described one case of unilateral isolated hemichoroidal melanosis with nearly 6-clock-hour hyperpigmentation in a patient with uveitis. 2 We are unaware of any previous report documenting bilateral isolated choroidal melanocytosis, nor of any with extensive 12-clockhour hyperpigmentation.…”

“…All 11 patients described in the literature had darkly pigmented choroidal lesions that were flat, unilateral, and roughly 3 clock hours or less in extent. 1 We report a rare, if not unique, case of bilateral diffuse isolated choroidal melanocytosis.…”

Answers

“…We are aware of only one previous report describing isolated choroidal melanocytosis in 11 cases 3. In all the cases in this report, hyperpigmentation was homogeneously dark brown in colour, diffuse, and flat.…”

Unusual Multifocal Pigmented Lesions of the Uvea in a Patient With Ocular Melanocytosis

“…Isolated choroidal melanocytosis: One report of this condition showed solitary areas of flat pigmentation. 8 Another report of a similar condition had bilateral multifocal lesions. 9 The findings in both these reports were different than those seen in our patient.…”