An amelanotic choroidal melanoma arising in a young man with tattoo-associated sarcoidosis

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology case reports Vol. 18; p. 100655
• Main Authors: Berkowitz, Sean T., Brock, Anderson L., Reichstein, David A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-06-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Case Report; Eye; Sarcoidosis; Tumor; Uveal melanoma; Eye; Uveal melanoma; Tumor; Sarcoidosis
• ISSN: 2451-9936; 2451-9936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2020.100655

To describe a patient with an amelanotic choroidal melanoma, originally misdiagnosed as a choroidal granuloma, following his systemic diagnosis of tattoo-associated sarcoidosis.
The amelanotic choroidal tumor, suspected to be a granuloma, failed initial steroid treatment. Full-thickness chorioretinal biopsy demonstrated histologic presence of uveal melanoma and tumor genetics via GEP analysis demonstrated a PRAME negative, Class 1A lesion. The amelanotic choroidal melanoma was treated successfully with I-125 plaque brachytherapy.
Despite a systemic diagnosis which predisposes a patient to uveal granuloma, amelanotic choroidal melanomas can still occur and should be considered. The association of uveal melanoma and sarcoidosis remains rare and of unclear significance.