Bilateral uveal melanoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of bilateral uveal melanoma is rare. This is the first reported case of bilateral melanoma of the choroidea in Austria. METHODS: The chart of a 62-year-old male patient with bilateral melanoma of the choroidea was reviewed. RESULTS: In October 1992, a patient was diagnosed with a choroidal melanoma in the left eye. After two treatments with a ruthenium applicator in 1992 and 1995, the left eye was enucleated in 1999 due to recurrent growth of the choroidal melanoma. In September 2005, the patient presented with a primary choroidal melanoma in the remaining right eye. Sonography of the liver as well as CCT and bone marrow scintigraphy showed no sign of metastatic disease. A ruthenium-106 brachytherapy was performed and the size and height of the melanoma showed decreases. In July 2006, the patient developed metastatic disease and died the following month due to metastasis of the liver. In the genetic analysis, monosomy 3 was detected in both melanoma, an amplification of c-MYC of chromosome 8 was detected in the melanoma of the right eye only. CONCLUSION: Bilateral uveal melanoma is a rare diagnosis. This case shows the importance of a thorough and recurrent examination of the second eye. The results of the genetic analysis are discussed.