Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Melanoma of the eye

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Malignant melanoma - choroid; Malignant melanoma - eye; Eye tumor; Ocular melanoma


Symptoms
  • Bulging eyes
  • Change in iris color
  • Poor vision in one eye
  • Red, painful eye
  • Small defect on the iris or conjunctiva

In some cases, there may be no symptoms.


Signs and tests

An eye examination with an ophthalmoscope may reveal a single round or oval lump (tumor) in the eye.

Tests may include:

  • Cranial CT scan to look for spread (metastasis) to the brain
  • Eye ultrasound
  • MRI of the head to look for metastasis to the brain
  • Skin biopsy if there is an affected area on the skin

Images

Retina

Review Date: 08/18/2009
Reviewed By: Daniel E. Bustos, MD, MS, Private Practice specializing in Comprehensive Ophthalmology in Eugene, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)