Malignant Anterior Uveal Melanoma Masquerading as Limbal Melanoma in a Shih-Tzu Dog with Recurrences of Hyphema

Malignant Anterior Uveal Melanoma Masquerading as Limbal Melanoma in a Shih-Tzu Dog with Recurrences of Hyphema

A 14-year-old neutered-male Shih-Tzu was referred for glaucoma and hyphema accompanied by systemic hypertension. After topical corticosteroid and antiglaucoma medications, the left eye (OS) progressed phthisically, but ocular hypertension redevelop one-year-and-seven-months later. Suspected limbal melanoma developed in peripheral cornea/limbal sclera with heavily pigmented cornea OS. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and ocular ultrasonography differentiated ciliary body origin-heterogeneous mass from limbal mass. Persistent hyphema and pigmented cornea might obscure intraocular lesion and advanced diagnostic methods played a crucial role. Unlike the generally benign limbal melanoma, aggressive treatment was recommended for uveal tumor. Histopathology of enucleated OS confirmed malignant uveal melanoma with chronic hypertensive vasculopathy.