An Unusual Iris Melanoma

Abstract

In recent years there have been a number of excellent clinical and pathological reports dealing with the problems of iris melanoma.^1-12 Nonetheless, the clinical diagnosis of iris melanoma may be exceedingly difficult if the presenting manifestations are bizarre or unusual. The following report describes an unusual case of melanoma of the iris occurring in association with unilateral iris nodules and glaucoma, heterochromia, and bilateral idiopathic atrophy of the iris pigment epithelium ("pigmentary glaucoma"). Report of Case The patient, a 27-year-old white man, was first seen in September 1964 through the courtesy of Dr. John Sneddon of Hanover, Pa, because of uncontrolled glaucoma in the right eye. The family and past histories were noncontributory. The patient was a tall, slender male with a habitus suggesting Marfan's syndrome, but diagnostic evaluation provided no other evidence for this diagnosis. The patient had worn glasses for a number of years for anisometropia. The