A case of solitary pulmonary metastasis of choroidal melanoma with an exceptionally long disease-free period.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor in adults. And its metastatic spread has been considered to be hematogenous with the liver being the most common site, and a solitary pulmonary metastasis without hepatic involvement is quite rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with a solitary pulmonary metastasis from choroidal melanoma, which had been originally treated with enucleation 13 years ago. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) right upper lobectomy was performed for the right upper lobe tumor, which was histopathologically confirmed to be metastatic choroidal melanoma. DISCUSSION: Our case is quite unusual in 2 points; firstly, a solitary pulmonary metastasis without hepatic involvement is rare. Secondly, this mode of metastasis with an exceptionally long disease-free period (13 years) is also rare. CONCLUSION: A pulmonary metastasis from choroidal melanoma is described with reference to relevant literature.