The pigmented puzzle: A case of cilio-choroidal melanocytoma

Abstract

A 5-year-old female patient presented with complaints of an inability to identify objects at home. Upon examination, a large retro-pupillary pigmented mass was discovered in the right eye. B-scan ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested a diagnosis of cilio-choroidal melanoma, leading to the decision to perform an enucleation. However, the histopathological analysis revealed the mass to be a cilio-choroidal melanocytoma, a rare benign pigmented tumor commonly associated with the optic nerve head. This case is unique due to the patient's young age, the unusual tumor location, and its larger size compared to previous reports. This case underscores the importance of considering melanocytoma in the differential diagnosis of pigmented intraocular tumors, especially given its clinical resemblance to malignant melanoma.