Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a patient with choroidal melanoma simulating choroidal detachment: a case report

Abstract Background Ophthalmologists and retina specialists may consider choroidal detachment if patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment present with choroidal elevation. That misdiagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatments, development of tumor cell dissemination, and eventual promotion o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Satoru Kase, Yuka Suimon, Kan Ishijima, Susumu Ishida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-12-01
Series:Journal of Medical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-018-1921-7
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Summary:Abstract Background Ophthalmologists and retina specialists may consider choroidal detachment if patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment present with choroidal elevation. That misdiagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatments, development of tumor cell dissemination, and eventual promotion of patient death. We report a case of a patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal melanoma simulating choroidal detachment according to fundus findings. Case presentation A 78-year-old Japanese woman with blurred vision in her right eye was referred to our hospital because of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with complicated atypical choroidal detachment. Her intraocular pressure was normal with clear anterior chamber. Retinal detachment involving the inferior and nasal retina was observed, and a retinal hole was noted in the same quadrant. A small yellowish choroidal elevation was located in the inferonasal site. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed enhancement corresponding to the elevation, leading to the identification of a choroidal tumor. Enucleation of the patient’s right eye was eventually performed. The enucleated eye histologically demonstrated malignant melanoma. Conclusions If hypotony or an inflammatory sign is absent, ophthalmologists should pay attention to the differential diagnosis of choroidal elevations observed in such patients.
ISSN:1752-1947