An Eye with Endothelial Dystrophy and Multiple Malignant Melanomata

Abstract

This report concerns a clinical and histopathologic study of an eye containing two apparently independent malignant melanomata and showing, in addition, changes in the cornea consistent with the diagnosis of endothelial dystrophy. A review of the literature indicates the rarity of truly independent multiple malignant tumors in the same eye and reveals surprisingly few histopathologic studies of eyes with endothelial dystrophy. It would seem, therefore, that an eye with both conditions is worth reporting. The eye was made available through the courtesy of Dr. Harold G. Scheie. REPORT OF CASE A woman, age 59, was first seen on Aug. 3, 1948, complaining of progressive blurring of vision for five years. Her corrected visual acuity was 6/12−2 O. D. and 6/15+3 O. S. The central portions of both corneas appeared hazy. With the slit lamp, this clouding was found to result from typical changes of endothelial dystrophy with secondary epithelial edema.