A case of a heavily pigmented orbital melanocytoma

Brain Tumor Pathol. 2009;26(1):25-9. doi: 10.1007/s10014-008-0242-8. Epub 2009 Apr 30.

Abstract

We present an extremely rare case of an orbital melanocytoma that occurred in a 51-year-old man. The patient suffered from diplopia and mild exophthalmos of the right eye for 2 months. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-demarcated round mass 3.5 cm in diameter in the right orbit. We performed total resection of this tumor. Histological findings revealed a proliferation of large polygonal cells with fine pigment granules in the cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. Although these tumor cells revealed immunohistochemical reactivity in HMB-1, there was no S-100 or Melan A antibody reactivity. Also, there were no malignant findings of nuclear polymorphism, mitoses, or necrosis. The brown pigments were confirmed to be melanin by bleaching and the Fontana-Masson silver stain method. The MIB-1 labeling index was less than 1%. This tumor also consisted of 50% melanophages, which revealed immunohistochemical reactivity in CD68, CD163, and in (1-AT antibodies. These histological findings led us to diagnose an orbital melanocytoma with partial tumor regression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Cell Nucleolus / pathology
  • Coloring Agents
  • Cytoplasm / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Melanins / metabolism
  • Melanosomes / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Nevus / pathology*
  • Nevus / surgery
  • Orbital Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Orbital Neoplasms / surgery
  • Silver Staining
  • Tissue Fixation

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Melanins