Orbital recurrence of iris melanoma 21 years after enucleation

Abstract

We present the case of a 56-year-old man who developed a neoplasm of epithelioid histology in his anophthalmic left orbit 21 years after he underwent enucleation for a spindle cell iris melanoma. The recurrent tumour was managed by orbital exenteration. Neither further recurrence nor metastasis was diagnosed over a 5-year follow-up period. This case, along with five other similar cases in the literature, emphasises the importance of long-term follow-up after treatment of iris melanoma.

Delayed recurrence of an iridociliary malignant melanoma 180° from the primary tumor

“…A review of the literature found 9 reports of late recurrences of primary iris melanoma ranging from 16 to 45 years after initial presentation. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 These late recurrences emphasize the importance of lifelong surveillance. As this case demonstrates, the majority of iris melanoma arise from preexisting nevi, however few nevi ultimately transform (2%).…”