Melanocytoma of the Choroid Clinically Simulating a Malignant Melanoma

A 46-year-old man was found on routine ophthalmoscopic examination to have a pigmented choroidal lesion that was suggestive of a malignant melanoma. Because of its clinical appearance, associated visual field defect, and the results of fluorescein angiography, the eye was enucleated. Histopathologically, the lesion proved to be a benign melanocytoma of the choroid. Although little is known about the fluorescein-angiographic characteristics of melanocytomas of the choroid, the fluorescein angiogram suggested a malignant melanoma. The advisability of a conservative approach to such small pigmented fundus lesions is reemphasized.